Fellowship: Family Bonding

God blesses me with everything I need to fulfill His purpose. The family He gave me is for Him. He is the Father of our family and we are His children. All that we are, all that we have, and all that we will be, are all for His divine purpose. 

For in Him we live and move and are, as even some poets among you have said, For we are also His race. (Acts 17:28, RecVer)

Because out from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36, RecVer)

God's gift and blessing are what makes my family. He gave me, and I treasure it. It is now my responsibility to nurture His gift, my family. To do so, I have established a daily family prayer time. The Lord has been gracing us till today to pray as a family, daily. Though we missed sometimes due to unavoidable circumstances, but only a very few times. While at home or on the move, I do my best to pray together with my family. Over the years we have made changes as per the need. Sometimes, we just pray, sometimes with singing, and now with a reading of the Life-study portion. 

Gradually, I have been witnessing the Lord’s answering most of the prayers we have been praying. Especially, with the recovery of some of our family members who are not in fellowship in the church life. Now, whoever we have been praying for, the Lord has been gaining them one by one, even family by family.

To further strengthen our family fellowship and bond, the Lord burdened me to fellowship and pray with my niece once in a month personally. Then with my daughter once in a week, with my son daily, and with youngest daughter now and then. Of course, with my wife every now and then. With my niece, we would read a lesson from the shepherding materials, prayer read a verse or two, and fellowship on personal and practical matters. With my daughter, we would spend time to talk and fellowship about her life and studies, and then pray. With my son, a specific time of corporate prayer and fellowship, strengthening our father-son relationship. I even told my son to feel free to open up to me for any matter whatsoever. I fixed thirty minutes daily with my son, the first half we have our own personal prayer and the second half we pray together. With my youngest daughter, since she is still too young, just a time together partly prayer and partly playing. With my wife, we fellowshop and prau for all important family matters and sometimes personal ones too. In this way, the Lord has been leading me to build up the family life He blessed me with.

All this is also with the view that 's a family we can all serve the Lord, to a channel of blessing to others, and also bear the Lord’s testimony as a family. 

And if it seems wrong in your sight to serve Jehovah, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve, either the gods from across the River, whom your fathers served, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah. (Joshua 24:15, RecVer)

Lord, thank You for my family. Continue to bless us for Your divine purpose.

Extra Oil

Last week, a brother's family invited me to visit them after a long long gap. Perhaps, over two/three years. Since there are brothers who are taking care of this family I deemed it best that those nearby can take care of this family. Therefore, I intentionally did not visit them as I used to. 

A few weeks ago, the father of the family had a serious health issue which was attended to by the saints who lives nearby. Though I was informed of the health issues, I decided to stay back and pray for the family. In fact, as a family and the church, we prayed for the father of the family. I was waiting for the proper time to meet the family.

The time finally came, and after a long long time indeed, my wife and I visited the family. As we fellowshipped about the family's situation, especially the father's health condition, the Lord gave me a burden to fellowship on the family's spiritual health condition. The instant words the Lord gave me was, "extra oil." Therefore, we had a wonderful time of fellowship on our need to wait for the Lord’s return and while doing so, we must have the extra oil by paying the price.

For the foolish, when they took their lamps, did not take oil with them; But the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (Matthew 25:3-4, RecVer)

Today, we must take care of our normal Christian life. Salvation is free but for the reward, we must pay the price to buy extra oil to be able to receive the reward. Daily, hourly, we must pay the price to buy oil. Daily, we must exercise to gain the extra Oil, the Spirit, to fill our spirit all the time. No one can pay the price and buy the oil for me. Nor can I, for anyone else. Each one has to bear his own burden. Each will be judged or rewarded. So, we must be prudent to pay the price to buy the golden oil, the Holy Spirit.

I released my burden of encouraging myself and all the saints present in the meeting to pay the price to buy the extra oil by taking care of our daily living. I also emphasized the need for the church life for our Christian life to grow. One important practical point is to be filled with the word of God in our mind by spending as much time as possible to read the Bible, pray over the word of God, spend time to pray daily, and pursue the Lord in all possible ways. Though I did not specifically told the saints to come to the church meeting, the sister of the family declared on her own that once her dad is getting better they would physically come to the Lord’s table meeting regularly. Later, we all prayed together and sought the Lord’s grace to be prudent virgins paying the praise to buy the extra oil.

But the prudent answered, saying, Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. (Matthew 25:9, RecVer)

Yesterday, in the online meeting with the seekers from Madhya Pradesh, the Lord gave me the same burden of the need to buy extra oil to be filled with the Spirit in our soul. For this, the price includes dealing with the world, denying the self, taking up the cross, loving the Lord, and following Him. There may be other ways of paying the price too. Whichever way, the price must be paid to buy the extra oil. This is the normal Christian life of laboring on Christ to gain the extra oil and to be transformed in the soul to gain the reward. This is also the way to make ourselves ready for the Lord’s coming.

Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:13, RecVer)

Be Fruitful and Multiply

And God said to him, I am the All-sufficient God: Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from your loins. (Genesis 35:11, RecVer)

In the beginning of this new year the Lord’s speaking to me has been, "Be fruitful and multiply." I trust in the Lord’s word and His promises. To me, this promise is related to my personal life and also the church life I am in. I must be fruitful in fruit bearing. And as the church, we must be fruitful in gaining increase in number. This has been one thing personally and corporately as the church we have to see the promise of God being fulfilled. Having said that, I am also aware that without the blessing of the All-sufficient God, we cannot be fruitful and multiply. We need the all-inclusive blessing of the all-sufficient God.

It takes the exercise of much faith to believe the promise of the Lord. Looking at my situation I feel completely hopeless. Yet, looking up to the Lord I am completely hopeful. This time, I must believe in the Lord’s word rather than my own feeling and assumption. For the past many years I have been struggling to bear fruit as I ought to, and I think I am still struggling. Though I have been regularly and weakly going out to preach the gospel, I feel the result is yet to be seen. Everytime I went out to preach the gospel, the Lord graced me to preach the gospel to at least one. In fact, many times to as many as five contacts. Yet, the gaining of remaining fruit seems still a distant dream. Though I may be discouraged at times, I still must be faithful to the Lord’s commission. 

The commission the Lord Jesus charged to everyone is to preach the gospel and discipling. There can be no discipling unless there are disciples gained through gospel preaching. Therefore, gospel preaching must be done by all the saints despite the outward situation whatever it may be.

Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19, RecVer)

Even as the Lord gave the promise to be fruitful and multiply, He also gave the opportunity to preach the gospel. Last week we had one whole week of gospel preaching in Gurugram with the trainees. I was blessed to participate in the gospel preaching in the afternoon sessions during the weekdays and both morning and afternoon sessions during the weekends. Every time we went to preach the gospel, the Lord gave us at least two to three people to whom we could preach the gospel. In this way, the Lord's promise to be fruitful and multiply is being fulfilled, I believe.

Some of the gospel contacts are MNC company managers, engineers, call centers employees, caterers, house keepers, chefs, and security guards. As many as can hear the gospel must hear the gospel. There must be the gospel preaching and it must always be the first and highest and unique commission of the Lord. Without the quantity there cannot be the quality. First, there must be the quantity of gospel "raw materials." Then, out of this quality, there will be the sons of peace, the quality gospel as the fruits of the gospel. May the Lord grace me ever to Carty out this commission of preaching the gospel regularly so that I can really and practically bear spiritual children to be fruitful and multiply.

Lord, fulfill Your promise and.make.me fruitful and multiply.

Ministry of the Word to Bilaspur

As usual, after attending the books exhibition at Madku, on the Lord’s Day we came to fellowship with the saints who are meeting as the church in Bilaspur. 

The burden the Lord gave us this time was to help all the saints to grow in life. First, by showing them the meaning of a Christian life according to the Bible: The Christian life is to live Christ.

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

For this to be true, there is a need for growth in life, which is Christ in our spirit spreading and saturation our soul, mind, emotion, and will. One of the greatest hindrances for growth in life is human natural concepts that can be dealt with by the renewing of the mind. So, a good number of Bible verses were used to delve deep into the matter of renewing the mind through the word of God till the mind of Christ becomes our mind.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:5, RecVer)

And then be full grown man until Christ makes His home in our hearts.

Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4, RecVer)

That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be full of strength to apprehend with all the saints what the breadth and length and height and depth are and to know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19, RecVer)

Furthermore, to help the saints practically, the emotion needing to love the Lord Jesus even above parents was also touched. And finally, the need for our human free will to be one with God’s will was also made known to the saints. Some young saints were not able to discern between God’s will and their parent's will. Sometimes, when parent's will did not align with God’s will, children were made to choose their parent's will in the guise of doing God’s will. Only by such dealing of the soul, can there be the growth in life for the building up of the Body of Christ. 

In fact, this was the burden the Lord gave me a few days ago. I already foreknew that the Lord wanted us to minister to the saints in the church in Bilaspur. This was also in line with the present speaking of the Lord; the growth in life for the building up of the Body of Christ.

This time the Lord restraint me from speaking anything other than the only burden He gave this time. Though there were some matters I thought to fellowship,  but the Lord strictly stopped me from fellowshipping. Even the brothers themselves did not bring any matter they brought to other brothers. It was not the time to deal with anything else other than dispense life through the ministry of the word. When the truth is ministered and life flows, there will be healing!

Then said He to me, This water flows out toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah and goes to the sea; when it flows into the sea, the water of the sea is healed. And every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes shall live, and there will be very many fish when this water comes there. And the water of the sea shall be healed, and everything shall live wherever the river comes. (Ezekiel 47:8-9, RecVer)

Lord, bless the church in Bilaspur and recover them fully into the fellowship of the Body of Christ!

Ministry Literature Distribution: Madku Massih Mela, Chhattisgarh

As usual, we had come to this islet again this year for the exhibition and distribution of the ministry literature. Many seeking Christians all over central India, especially Chhattisgarh, had come to visit our stall. Though we were there for only three days out of the seven days, twenty two boxes of ministry books and tracts were sold and distributed. 

On each day during the three days, the Lord brought different groups of seeking believers, especially, Pastors, to whom we introduced the ministry face to face and one on one. A good number of them already knew us as we also came year by year for the past few years. Some brothers testified that though the mela was going on, ours had the truth. He expressed his gratitude for making the truth available to God’s children. Yes, that was excatly why we were there for. All other stores basically came to to do business by selling items of Christianity including Bibles, but our goal was much beyond selling. Our goal was to make the ministry of the age, the ministry of the  word, the healthy teaching, and the faithful word available to all the children of God.

Two groups of brothers from Champa-Korba region and Bilaspur region came to visit us at the book stall on two different days. In fact, they were first introduced to the ministry of the word a few years ago at the same venue in the same Madku Masih Mela. Now, they have taken the stand for the Lord’s testimony. And now they are akso in the process of bringing them into the fellowship of the Body of Christ. Anotejr group of believers from Betul region also came for fellowship. They too were contacted in the same venue a few years ago. This has become a strategic place and time for contacting seekers all over central India. This time too, new contacts were gained for further follow-up. 

The Lord honored our burden and He also blessed us to release this burden. The word of God sown as a seed has been bearing fruits all over North India now!

Lord, bless Your move in North India among the Hindi speaking believers. 

Ministry of the Word to Channamunda, Noapada Odisha

The day after the Odis translation fellowship in Khariar Road, the local brothers arranged a time of meeting with Seeking believers in Channamunda, a village in the outskirt of Noapada district. 

As usual, I followed my brother in ministering the word of God. I had no specific burden of my own. I was simply praying and waiting on the Lord what He wanted to minister. The Lord then used my brother to release the burden of God’s calling and the qualifications of God’s called ones from the life of Mosses in Exodus chaoters 3 and 4. My brother gave in detail all the points concerning God’s calling of Moses and the three subjective signs accompanying God’s calling. Then, I continued on the purpose of God's calling.

And when Jehovah saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him out of the midst of the thornbush and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here I am. (Exodus 3:4, RecVer)

And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. (Exodus 3:8, RecVer)

This burden was thus released in relation to the fulfilment of God’s purpose of creating man in His image, likeness, and giving him dominion over all the created thing for His expression and representation corporately on the earth through the church. This burden was also linked to God’s creation of the three parts of man, the parts of the temple in Jerusalem, and the three stages of eating and journeying of the children from Egypt to the wilderness and to the good land.

Since this group of believers was also influenced by miracles and healing as many other independent groups today, the Lors shined on them to see that most of the miracle God did were only in the wilderness signifying the soul life. But that was not the goal of God’s calling. Christians must move on from mere feeding on manna and drinking from the smitten rock to cross the river Jordan and laboring on the good land to ultimately build the temple and worship God foe His expression.

After the ministry of the word the believers, especially he, were so excited to learn new things. He has been enlightened to see that he need to pursue the Lord further, labor on the all-inclusive Christ, and not roam around in the wilderness with "miracles." He was also impressed that the goal of God’s calling is for the fulfillment of God’s purpose, the building up of the Body of Christ!

After the fellowship, we had lunch together and then brothers took us for sight seeking of a dam.

May the Lord recover His testimony in Channamunda and Khariar Road soon.

Fellowship: Odia Translation

In 2014, we first met a brother from Odisha and presented the ministry to him. Later, two more brothers were brought into fellowship. Since then, they have been pursuing the ministry and l the translation work into Odia had begun. But due to various reasons not new to me, the translation work has been dragging. Then, a few more translators were brought in. Some how, after much waiting three free booklets distributed by Rhema were printed and distributed, and the remaining four titles books were translated too. But, the work needs improvement with a proper set up of qualified translators. Therefore, this trip to Sambalpur was taken to meet one of the translators and then to Khariar Road, where all the three key translators came together for an afternoon session of translation fellowship. 

Though, I was not directly involved in the translation fellowship, I was with all the brothers for all the supporting services. I believe this was a milestone in Odia translation service and a new beginning. There are millions of seeking Christians all over Odisha waiting for the healthy teaching of the ministry of the word. May the Lord gain His chosen ones to cook healthy spiritual food for all His odia speaking children.

Besides, we also had a time of gospel preaching to a relative of a brother and let her to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour and also used the Scriptures to show her the spiritual meaning of water baptism as she believed into the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Then, another time, I had a time of preaching the gospel to the neighbors of a brother who came to hear about the Lord Jesus Christ. I also gave them the opportunity to receive the Lord at their own will. 

As one seeking sister came to purchase the ministry literature, the Lord burdened me to show her and other believers present there, how to seek and know God’s will. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and prayer. The Lord has been quietly carrying His work in Odisha. 

Lord, bless Your move in Odisha!

Fellowship: Chennai Serving Ones

The visit to Chennai is mainly to fellowship with one of the serving brothers whose matter had recently been critically assessed as he got entangled in a side business that was brought to our notice. Nevertheless, a word of fellowship was given once the matter came to light a year ago. The aftermath of it was what I had gone to Chennai for. Therefore, I had a personal time of fellowship with him and clarified all the points the brothers brought to us. I had been praying for him and the matter concerning him. Deep within, the Lord confirmed to me that everything will be alright. This was the opportunity for me to learn how to handle critical situation and exercise God’s wisdom in dealing with it. At the same time, it was also a perfecting lesson and a warning for the concerned brother. I got to learn to deny my soul life and obey the Lord’s leading through the brothers' fellowship. 

A week later, the matter concerning that brother was settled, though the way was long and passed through a lot of fellowship. The enemy had been trying his best to destroy and kill the function of a full-time serving brother. First, I had to ask him to submit the list of siants who got involved in the business, which he did and was later clarified. Second, a phone call from his father-in-law on three things he misunderstood. Then, a chain of fellowship with brothers physically at Guntur, Tenkasi, Chennai, and over the phone from Madku Chhattisgarh. Then, I conveyed the points of fellowship to all the brothers concerned including the brother who called me as I need to clarify his misunderstanding, after which he thanked me and also blessed me by saying, "Thank you brother! God bless you!"

Besides, in fellowship a new arrangement in Chennai office was done for a better ambience when visitors visit the literature office. We also enjoyed a day of fellowshipping with serving ones over lunch and also visited two families, whose translation service had been affected due to health and family issues. We went to encourage them to sail on in the grace of the Lord in the Tamil translation service.

In addition, I also got to visit my ex-guardian and ex-teacher while I was studying MCA in MCC Tambaram, Chennai. In both the visitation, I shared my enjoyment of the Lord and also testified of the good deeds and blessings God has been bestowing upon me. They both prayed for me and blessed me.

Chennai O Chennai, herein I truly experienced the nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work. Yes, all for the building of the temple of God, the church, the Body of Christ as in the building of temple in Jerusalem by Solomon.

“There were nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals that were at the top of the pillars, seven for the one capital, and seven for the second capital.” (1 Kings 7:17, RecVer)

Fellowship: New Testament Recovery Version Proofreading in Kannada

On the 28th of January we attended the leading brothers fellowship in Hubli, Karnataka to present the need for volunteers who could do the comparison reading of the translated Kannada New Testament Recovery Version. Since the number of saints are not many, the saints have tried their best to somehow get enough saints who knows both Kannada and English to do the comparison reading. After this, there will be the final stage of proofreading, afterwhich printing of the Kannada New Testament would be done.

Since two of the translators reside in a nearby city Belgaum, we deemed it best to also visit them after the fellowship on Lord’s Day. Another reason for such visit was, our main translator sister's father was critically ill and was admitted to the hospital just the day before we went to Hubli. Besides, we could also visit the Kannada translators family, as both husband and wife were in the same team of translation service for the past five years. A week later, the father of our translator went to be with the Lord due to his ill health. The Lord was sovereign in bringing us to visit them at the right time.

From Hubli, we went to Bengaluru for two days 29 and 30th January and visited ten possible venues for carying out the proofreading project in Kannada. The brothers in the church in Bengaluru coordinated with us and led us to these ten different venues. We enjoyed a sweet coordination together. I believe, the Lord will grant us the wisdom to finalize on the right venue for the proofreading project. May His will be done.

On a side note, I also got to meet up with one of my old classmates who lived just nearby a brother's house where we were given hospitality in Bengaluru. I introduced him to the brothers in the church hoping that he could also be brought into the fellowship of the Body of Christ.

After all the works were done, as our final stop, we went to visit a couple for shepherding visit. The brother came to the church life in Gurugram and I also got to attend his marriage function in Kunnur. I had been fellowshipping and praying with this brother while he was in Gurugram, and later, once in a while. At his home, we all attended the online PSRP of message on the recent Winter Training on the burden of laboring on the all-inclusive Chirst.

Thus, the visit to Hubli, Belgaum, and Bengaluru was done with our burden accomplished.

Lord, bless the church in Bengaluru and the upcoming Kannada New Testament Recovery Version Proofreading Project. 

Fellowship: Old Testament Recovery Version Translation

In has been indeed a great blessing to participate in the Lord’s move through the literature service. By His grace and blessing, I have been enjoying all my official functions and responsibilities. In no way or ever, I felt I was working or struggling to accomplish something. But in all my labor in coordination with my fellow co-working brothers, I have been just witnessing and reaping what the Lord has already done. The tasks at hand seemed to be great and difficult, but the Lord has been with us in accomplishing all of them. What seemed impossible and difficult were actually done! I declare this in faith. 

After the completion of the New Testament Recovery Version translation in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Mizo, now the Lord is leading us further to translate the Old Testament in Tamil, Telegu, and Hindi. Hopefully, Malayalam too. For this, there was a need for proper and thorough felllowship with leading brothers of the churches speaking these languages. Therefore, in fellowship and coordination with the brothers serving in the work in India, we travelled to Tenkasi, Tamilnadu on 26th January 2024 and Vizag, Andhra Pradesh on 3rd February 2024 to fellowship concerning Tamil and Telugu Old Testament Recovery Version translation respectively. 

The Lord has been with us in all our journeys, and all the while I personally also enjoyed the Lord’s presence. I did not feel any tiredness physically though the journey was hectic, for the enjoyment of God's presence overshadowed every outward matters. In fact, as I set out for this journey which would last until the 12th of February, the Lord's words to me was, "Enjoy God!" True to His words, I have been enjoying God all along. 

In both the places of fellowship, we released the burden concerning the need for Old Testament Recovery Version in Tamil and Telugu, the need to spiritually support this project with prayers and financial offerings, the need to consider generously to support the translators, and also presented the detail that entails Hebrew learning from a secular university in Jerusalem, Israel. 

After releasing the burden, we also gave time for the brothers to respond and clarify any doubt. In all the fellowship, the Lord and the brothers were one with the burden and it has been confirmed that the matter is of the Lord. Therefore, the Lord will successfully complete the project within the stipulated time of two years for learning Hebrews and six years for translation, altogether eight years. If the Lord tarries His second coming, and if we start this project by this year 2024, it will be accomplished only by 2032. With the Lord, time is not the issue. What He planed and purposed, He will accomplish it in His way and at His time.

I pray that the Lord will preserve all of us coordinating in this project in the overseeing and the translation with the churches' support to see and go through the practical process until printing and promotion of the Holy Bible Recovery Version in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. We pray that Malayalam may also be added too in time. May the will of the Lord be done.

Lord, bless the Old Testament Recovery Version translation project in India!

Amidst Saffronisation

India is a religious country. As one born in India, I had also been influenced by religion in the past. The family, social, and political environment where one grew up with, shaped that person. Since the background of almost all people are religious, no wonder, the people of the country are religious too. 

As one born of parent from multiple religions background, in my case,  Hinduism, Animism, and Christianity, I had experienced something of all, especially the festivals and ways of worshipping God. During my childhood when I did not know God personally, religions were all of fun, frolic, friendship, and festival. We just followed blindly what were traditionally followed, mostly in obedience to our parent and elders in the society. So the natural outcome was being religious until I had my personal encounter with the true and living God, Jesus Christ, my Saviour. If not for this encounter with God, I would still linger in multiple religions of my background. Thank God, He saved me!

This year has been favourable to one section of the country, the majoritarian religion, with the construction and inauguration of their long dreamed religious sunctum. As like other religions, they also got what they have longed for. The democracy in India has granted freedom of worship to all religions. It's all one's choice. Besides, articles 25 to 28 of the Indian Constitution provide that every Indian has the right to freedom of religion.

The result of this good news for the majoritarian has been very obvious. As I traveled across Central and North India by train and by road, I saw saffron mini triangular flags hoisted on streets, houses, and even in public places. Even the hotel where I lodged was adorned with saffrons in front and on the rooftop. 

Religion is a personal choice and a fundament right. No one can forcefully impose any religion upon any one, he can preach and propagate according to his rights, but the choice is personal. I chose mine and others chose theirs. And we all live together as Indians. Amidst saffronisation, one has the right to practice his own choice of faith. And that's what I have been doing. 

My daily prayers were done during my stay in a hotel was amidst saffron flags. The rooftop was adorned with saffron, and in the midst of it, I was walking and praying. Outward environment did not matter to me, for prayer is an inward matter, fellowshiping with God. Prayer can be prayed at any time, any place, and any where. 

I pray for my countrymen as taught by the word of God.

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. 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. For there is one God and one Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to be borne in its own times. (1 Timothy 2:1-6, RecVer)

Therefore, I pray for all men whoever the Lord burdened me to pray for. I pray for people I am burdened to pray for. My prayer list entails those from Christianity, Hinduism, Muslim, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and even Atheism. God loves them all.

For there is one God and one Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to be borne in its own times. (1 Timothy 2:6, RecVer)

So, amidst saffronisation, I pray, profess, practice, and propagate my faith. God gave me these rights and my country also gave me these rights as enshrined in the Constituion of India, article 25. Thank God, my country is a democratic country. In addition to democracy, I also practice theocracy, learning to be ruled by God, especially, in my conscience.

Because of this I also exercise myself to always have a conscience without offense toward God and men. (Acts 24:16, RecVer)

As a part of my right to profess and practice, I quote the Holy Scriptures here below and look to God for His grace to practice them as well, wholeheartedly.

“1. Let every person be subject to the authorities over him, for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are ordained by God. 

2. So then he who resists the authority opposes God’s ordination, and those who oppose will receive judgment to themselves. 

3. For the rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you want to have no fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from him; 

4. For he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, fear; he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who practices evil. 

5. Therefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. 

6. For because of this you also pay taxes; for they are God’s officers, attending constantly to this very thing. 

7. Render to all the things due: tax to whom tax is due, custom to whom custom is due, fear to whom fear is due, honor to whom honor is due. 

8. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves the other has fulfilled the law. 

9. For, “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

10. Love does not work evil to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:1-10, RecVer)

Amidst saffronisation, in obedience to the word of God, I love my country India, and I also love my countrymen, my neighbors, Indians. I do my best to subject to the rulers of this country as long as they do not go against God’s words, and I pay my taxes too. Much more, I pray for India and I also pray for Indians.

God bless India! God save Indians!

Enjoying God's Creation!

He has made everything beautiful in its own time; also He has put eternity in their heart, yet so that man does not find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good in their lifetime; Moreover, that every man should eat and drink and taste enjoyment in all his labor; it is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13, RecVer)

God wants man to enjoy Him. Everything God has made beautiful for man to enjoy His creation and rejoice in Him. Life is to enjoy God's blessing!

Today morning, I was in a train on my way back from a three weeks long ministry literature journey to Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh when the joy of the Lord with His presence filled me as I was also enjoying my time with the Lord in a morning revival time. I was also witnessing the beautiful creation of God as the train passsed through central part of North India in Madhya Pradesh amidst rockly mountains, rough terrains, green valleys, plain green fields, ponds, streams, rivers, bridges and tunnels, I was awestruck and overwhelmed with the greatness of God. He has created everything beautiful for man. Only enlightened eyes can see these. I am glad, I am one such. I see God is all these beautiful creation.

For the invisible things of Him, both His eternal power and divine characteristics, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being perceived by the things made, so that they would be without excuse; (Romans 1:20, RecVer)

As I enjoyed God through all His creation, I could relate my experience with the hymn "How Great Thou Art."

O Lord my God, When I, in awesome wonder, 

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made; 

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, 

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Chorus:

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 

How great Thou art, How great Thou art! 

When through the woods and forest glades I wander, 

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Composed by Stuart K. Hine, a Bristish Methodist missionary. He wrote the hymn on a mission trip in Ukraine in 1931 when he heard the Russian translation of a German song inspired by Carl Boberg's poem "O Store Gud" (O Great God).

What more can I say at the sight of God’s marvelous wisdom in creation except to praise Him, thank Him, and worship Him!

Having witnessed God's beautiful creation, I appreciated the Creator much more than ever before and the Firstborn of all creation, Jesus Christ!

Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation, Because in Him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or lordships or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and unto Him. And He is before all things, and all things cohere in Him; And He is the Head of the Body, the church; He is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that He Himself might have the first place in all things; (Colossians 1:15-18, RecVer)

Even as I enjoyed God's beautiful creation, deep within me there is a sense of honor and glory to Jesus Christ and I gave Him the preeminence. The creation leads to the Creator and the creation is for man to know who the Creator is. Yes, God is invisible, but He is made visible through His creation. No wonder, only the fool and blind will say there is no God.

The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt; they commit abominable deeds; There is none who does good. (Psalms 14:1, RecVer)

The conclusion of the matter can be expressed in a hymn composed by Witness Lee on a similar tune with that of Stuart K. Hine. All my being sings in praise to God!

Hymn #17

My Father God, when on Thy vast creation.

The wonders of the heav'n and earth, I gaze.

Things great and small, beyond enumeration,

Which manifest Thy pow'r in untold ways;

Then all my being sings in praise to Thee,

How marvelous! How great Thou art!

And this I'll sing through all eternity,

How marvelous! How great Thou art!

2

As I enjoy the grace of Thy salvation

And contemplate how Thou Thy Son hast sent,

Who died that we might be Thy new creation,

Thy life expressing to the full extent;

3

When in the church, in blest participation,

I see how millions Thine own life possess,

How they are built to form Thy habitation,

Containing Thee, Thy fulness to express;

4

As I expect the coming age of fulness

And hope to share the new Jerusalem,

With all the heavens and the earth in newness

And all Thou art expressed in all of them;

Prayers for All

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God. (1 Timothy 2:1-3, RecVer)

In line with the word of God I used to pray for "kings" and those in high position. In fact, I used to pray daily for famous people in India and also in the world. The people that I prayed for includes Presidents and Prime Ministers of different countries, the prominent ones in relation to God’s move on the earth. The list also includes various sportsmen, entrepreneurs, business men, movie stars, politicians, religious leaders, etc. When prayer burdens were more with personal, family, service, and church needs, I somehow directed my prayers more on these immediate needs. Though I have been reading about these famous people in the world from the news, I hardly prayed for them any longer.

Last week, a news report reminded me again of my need to pray for some of these ones in a more specific way. Therefore, I picked up the burden to pray again for some of these ones, especially those who are undergoing hardtimes. I feel that this is the best time for them to seek for the true and living God and somehow be saved. Should the Lord will so, I am even ready to meet them face to face or contact them to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. As much as I need the Lord, I believe, they so need the Lord even more. 

I have also been following the current political events in India. So, I pray earnestly for the rulers of this nation, both the ones in power and those in the opposition. God’s desire is that all men be saved, first of all. I therefore took this burden upon myself and pray for the salvation of all men especially those whom the Lord specifically burdened me for.

Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4, RecVer)

Now, my prayer burdens list has become much longer. I need more time for prayer. In fact, these burdens helped me redeem my time and encouraged me to pray more. On the one hand, I pray for them, yet on the other hand, I am helped to pray more and more. Yes, the prayers are for others, but I am the first beneficiary. Because I pray. Whether the Lord will answer my prayers or not, it's all upto Him. But the fact that I am praying is already the answer to my prayers.

One new lesson I learned is, instead of opining or discussing about the rulers of the nation, my prayer for them will benefit them, the nation and me. By political discussion, I could achieve nothing for the country. The best that I can do for the nation and the world is pray. Yes, pray for the nation and the world leaders, especially for their salvation and for God’s will to accomplish on the earth even through these ones like the way God used the king of Persia.

Now in the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia, so that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus the king of Persia; and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in writing, saying, (Ezra 1:1, RecVer)

Lord, I petition, pray, and intercede on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position. Let Your will be done in India and in the world!

Recovery and Healing: Manipur

The Scriptures have not mentioned about the saints meddling in secular politics. Though the Bible encourages believers to pray for those in the authority, there has not been a definite mentioning of the saints actively involved in politics, especially in the New Testament. Though the apostles lived during the time of shrewd, cruel, crafty, and evil rulers, they never directly criticized them. Instead, there was a record of Paul appealing to Ceaser, boldly and openly testifying before the rulers, and even praying for them. The New Testament has set the principle straight for all Christians today. They were indeed apolitical. This is the very thing I personally find it hard to be one such. Like it or not, I have a political inclination towards a certain party. Though I pray for the present rulers, I have my own reservation, which came by instinct, the ones inclining more towards my faith in the true and living God. The Lord is sovereign. These days, every news I have been hearing in my country is only leading to discouragement. Every new political development is a bad news. In the midst of such, the Lord reminded me of His words and the end times. Things seems to get worse and not better. And they are bound to happen as already prophesied. Perhaps, this is what it is to be. I simply must accept the fact and live with it and pray for my nation. A few days ago, the Lord spoke a very clear word to me especially about my home state Manipur in my home country India. Despite the outward situation of hatred, enmity, fighting and killing, there can still be recovery, restoration, and peace. As the Lord spoke, I also shared with some WhatsApp groups I am in.

When all news are bad news, the only good news is the word of God. Let us believe in the word of God*l and claim it as our own and pray over it. Amen

I am about to bring it *recovery and healing and will heal them*; and I will reveal to them an abundance of *peace and truth*. And I will turn the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel and build them up as in the former time. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, by which they have sinned against Me, and *forgive all their iniquities*, by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me. And it will be a name of gladness and a praise and a glory to Me before all the nations of the earth, who will hear of *all the good that I am about to do for them*; and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and because of all *the peace that I am about to provide* for it. 

(Jeremiah 33:6-9, RecVer)

A few days later, the Lord spoke to me again that as He will restore and recover the peace amon the warring tribes, the way is by loving God and loving one another. God is love. In the love of God, hatred, enmity, fighting and killing, will all be undone. God is the solution; the God Who is love and the love of God flowing among the believers is the way healing, recovery, restoration, and peace can be expereinced again. Then, I shared my enjoyment of the word again to the same groups.

Sharing my today's manna.

The word of God is plain and perfect; it explains by itself. Simply read, understand, believe, receive, and prayer over, then *the word of God will be your experience and enjoyment.* 

(1 John 4:7-21, RecVer)

7. Beloved, *let us love one another*, because love is of God, and everyone who loves has been begotten of God and knows God. 

8. He who does not love has not known God, because *God is love*. 

9. In this the love of God was manifested among us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might have life and *live through Him*. 

10. Herein is love, not that we have loved God but that *He loved us and sent His Son as a propitiation for our sins*. 

11. Beloved, if God has loved us in this way, *we also ought to love one another*. 

12. No one has beheld God at any time; *if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.* 

13. In this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, that *He has given to us of His Spirit.* 

14. And we have beheld and testify that *the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world*. 

15. Whoever *confesses that Jesus is the Son of God*, God abides in him and he in God. 

16. And we know and have believed the love which God has in us. *God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.* 

17. In this has love been perfected with us, that we may have boldness in the day of the judgment because *even as He is, so also are we in this world.* 

18. There is *no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear* because fear has punishment, and he who fears has not been perfected in love. 

19. *We love because He first loved us*. 

20. If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for *he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.* 

21. And this commandment we have from Him, that *he who loves God love his brother also.*

Lord, heal our people and our land! Bring in recovery, restoration, peace, and love! Heal Manipur! Heal India! Yes, in Your way, in Your time, for Your purpose! Amen.

God Bless You!

God is a God of blessing. He desires to bless His children all the time. The only question is, whether we are in a condition to receive the Lord’s blessing. Though God is a God of blessing, His blessing is conditional. And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you listen to the voice of Jehovah your God. (Deuteronomy 28:2, RecVer)

Since the past few weeks, I have been traveling for the ministry literature service. Along the journey, I have been or have talked with some brothers and sisters who loves me and who I also honors me in the Lord. While visiting or talking to each one of them, the conclusion of  all the meetings was, "God bless you!"

About a month ago, a brother called me and spoke to me about his displeasure concerning one of his family members who is under my official overseeing. He had heard about certain matters that displeased him and expressed his ingratitude to me. Though I tried to clarify over the phone about the truth of the matter and the person concerned, he did not pay heed and simply cut the phone call before I could even conclude the conversation. Later, I fellowshipped with my fellow brothers and, with much prayer, I carried out whatever was fellowshipped with me. This included the fellowship at Tenkasi with the leading brothers of the locality where the person concerned was from, then in Chennai, and then finally over the phone while I was in the midst of the distribution in Chhattisgarh. Since one of the brothers encouraged me to call and clarify the matters to the concerned brother, I prayed over much and then made the call. The Lord was indeed in all the details of fellowship and as I called and clarified the matter, this elder brother felt the matters I clarified to him were very good and this time, concluded with a word of blessing. He said, "Thank you brother, God bless you!" O what a relief! Not merely because of the word of blessing, but because of the clarification that was rendered against the enemy's strategy of creating doubts adm confusion among the saints. Praise the Lord! Christ is Victor! Hallelujah!

In my visit and fellowship with an elderly couple who loves me dearly, I received a lot of love and care. They used to be my local guardian while I was a student in Chennai. As usual, they asked me to share the word of God with them. After which, I prayed and the elderly brother also prayed. As I was about to take leave from them, they also blessed me in prayer and the parting words were, "God bless you!"

As I spent a time of fellowship with a brother and his wife, my Computer Science teacher when I was a student, the Lord led me to testify of how He called me and blessed me richly , both spiritually and physically too. They were quite encouraged by elwhat the Lord has been doing in my life. As we had our concluding prayer, the couple's last words were, "God bless you!"

Even as I met some group of Christian brothers in Chhattisgarh where we came for the annual festival, many who came, met us and received the ministry literature expressed there gratitude for introducing the ministry literature to them. Each of them had just one common conclusion for us, "God bless you!"

Thank the Lord for His blessing. GOD IS A GOD OF BLESSING AND HE BLESSES. Thank You Lord for Your blessing! Amen.