Fellowship with Trainees Sisters

The situation in North India concerning the gospel preaching has been affected due to the Satanic forces operating in the minds of the people living in darkness blinded by religious fanaticism these days. In the midst of such animosity towards the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Bible, a case has been registered against some young saints under the purported bill passed by certain states ruled by the majoritarian fanatics. Thereby, making changes to the ongoing training of the young people. To encourage these young ones amidst this attack, a team of ten sisters were sent yesterday, 30 May, to fellowship with me and my wife.

As I prayed and considered before the Lord what to fellowship, the Lord led me to testify on some basic and practical Christian living the Lord has taught me since the time He saved me. Though there were questions I could address to answer, I felt, fellowshiping the basic will be more helpful and practical in their Christian life for the church life. With this testimony, basic practical points were covered, at least in principle. 

First, the need for prayer life. A time with the Lord when there will be hundreds and thousands of conversation between the Lord Jesus and I have lightened me on my Christian path concerning many things in life. This is the best way to exercise the spirit and fellowship with the Lord directly. For this, a specific time need to be set. The more the better. An hour or two is a good suggestion. I testified of how I would spent two hours from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm daily during my Master's degree in Chennai. Till today, the Lord has been gracing me to enjoy a time with Him day by day. Prayer life is the Christian life and the Christian life is a prayer life.

Second, seeking the will of the Lord in everything at every time. In additional to the general will of God for the accomplishing of His divine economy, a specific, personal, and perfect will of the Lord must also be sought for in prayer. There are many choices in life for anything under the sun but seeking the will of the Lord amidst many choices is the best practice for any genuine believer. It saves one from many unwarranted decisions and confusion in life. I testified of how I sought the Lord’s will in my academic career, and how the Lord called me to serve, and the many practical thrilling experiences the Lord bestowed upon me while seeking and doing His will, including my marriage to my beloved wife.

Since prayer is the excerise of the Spirit, we will be able to discern God’s will easily. More prayer, more exercise of the spirit, more clarity in discerning God’s will. I also testified of how God’s clarion call came while seeking God's will in prayer for my life and for my wife to be, among many other things. I testified of how the Lord called me to serve Him through the written word which because the living word on 1 January 2003 morning.

And now, O Israel, what does Jehovah your God ask of you except that you fear Jehovah your God so that you would walk in all His ways and love Him and serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul; (Deuteronomy 10:12, RecVer)

Third, the Christian life is a life of faith, a life of trusting the Lord in everything. I testifed of how the Lord has been gracing me to live by faith and trust Him for my life and service. I testified of how the Lord has been faithfully supplying all my needs even financially. And I encouraged the saints to honor the Lord with offerings from what God has bountiful blessed.

Fourth, to live a righteous, holy, and sanctified life by taking Christ as our righteousness, holiness, and sanctification. What Christ is, is what we should be, by taking Christ as our life.

Fifth, my wife fellowshipped on how she simply trusted and followed the Lord step by step from joining the training and serving full-time and even coming to India to serve together with me. 

Sixth, she also emphasized the need for blending and be blendable with other saints, along with her testimony of serving the Lord as a house wife and a mother in India.

Seventh, I mentioned the need to accept the Lord’s sovereign arrangement. Whatever God arranges is the best. There is no need for comparison with anyone. God deals with each one as He deems best. Once this universal truth is known and understood subjectively, we will clubbed the two verses together accepting and thanking God for His sovereignty in all things.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28, RecVer)

Giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father, (Ephesians 5:20, RecVer)

Eighth, I added a concluding point, the lesson on coordination, with my experiences during my full-time training twenty years ago. The Lord's cross played an important role in breaking my natural man to be able to coordinate with whoever the Lord arranges to serve in coordination. 

As we began our fellowship with prayer, we also ended our fellowship in prayer. The sisters who came for fellowship were very much supplied as they testified through their prayers and noting all the points of fellowship. 

May the Lord bless all of them to enjoy the training life, and be trained to be useful vessels to the Lord!

Fellowship with a Brother's Family

The Lord has been faithfully taking care or His move and His testimony in India. Many serving ones' family have been serving in coordination with the local saints for the furtherance of the Lord’s move and the strengthening of the Lord’s testimony. In Inida, at least I can say for myself, that the brothers coming to serve in India are rendering tremendous help to the local saints. I am one one of the many beneficiaries. For this, I worship and thank the Lord for His special grace and blessing. Many have come to serve and have gone back for different services. That has been a regular practice now. It helps in blending the saints and building up the Body practically. 

On the 29th of May, my family got the opportunity to fellowship over lunch with a brother's family who has faithfully been serving in this country for a score year less two. Though we meet for the work fellowship and trainings frequently, but this was the only time we could spend time in a way of family blending. Though we both brothers have been coordinating in the Lord’s move here, we never had any natural relationship or also with any others. All our relationship is in the realm of the church life as brothers in Christ. Natural relationship must be completely avoided in the church life. In this regard, I feel, the proper relationship has been maintained. So there should not be any special feeling as such when the Lord’s arrangement makes adjustement in the place and area of our service. My brother also took the Lord’s arrangement of his service change in a positive way. This is,  indeed, a proper attitude. 

When my brother's change of service was formally announced in a weekly coworkers fellowship by a brother with the view that we all are in God’s army and we obey the Lord’s sovereign arrangement as and when it happens, we all had only one answer, amen. Since the brother asked me to share too, I simply echoed what other brothers had shared concerning being under the Lord’s sovereignty and accepting whatever the Lord as the Head arranges. I testified of how in this way of fellowship and arrangement in the Body, I had also been led from one service to the other, and one place to the other. First, the call to be a trainee, then the sending to Delhi, then to Gurugram and so forth. Only one word answer to the Master's command, "Amen!"

My wife and my elder daughter stayed overnight for fellowship the day before we had the lovefeast. We took every opportunity to fellowship and blend with the saints whenever possible. Since our children prefered fastfood, we enjoyed lunch together at Macdonald Vasant Vihar, Delhi. Our children and spouse had a wonderful time of blending. We brothers too fellowshipped on some important move of the Lord in India. Whether in India or elsewhere, we are all in the Body, serving together for God’s divine goal.

Thank the Lord for the Lord’s blessing upon my brother in India. Thank the Lord for the many ways He led my brother in coordinating for the Lord’s move in India. Many saints, I myself, and the Lord remembers his function while in India. Many of these experiences, whatever, will be a treasured memory as a sweet remembrance even unto the kingdom age!

Lord, continue to anoint and blessing my brother in his function whatever and wherever. Much grace upon the family with new changes. All to the glory of the Sovereign God whom we serve! Amen.

Lesson on Prayer

The Lord is sovereign over all. He knows how to be God at His best and let that be known to men on earth. Even for believers, He works things in ways He could gain their attention. All those who know God in this subjective way will surely worship God for His ways.

In the recent past, I thought I made a mistake in making some decisions related to the dates of our family's foreign trip. But as I prayed over the matter over and over again I realised that the Lord was in the minute detail and I did not make a mistake. It was His sovereign arrangement. This pertains to our trip to Singapore and Taiwan, and before that my children's trip to Lonavala for the teenagers training. The itinerary looks quite tight, but the Lord was involved in the planning. Hallelujah!

When I applied for the visas for Singapore and Taiwan visit too, through the process and outcome of the application, I could see the Lord’s hand in it. The duration, the visa type granted, and the waiting period, all made me to turn to the Lord and pray. I did not take anything for granted just for the fact that I am legally eligible. The issuing  authority is God Himself on the throne. My Singapore visa application was delayed for over three weeks until I finish the ministry literature journey to Andhra Pradesh. When I applied, it was too realty to process. And when it was to be processed, the person in charge was on leave. All these matters led me to pray and pray and fully depend on the Lord.

Even when I got both the visas, now there are situations happening in both the countries. Singapore is going through Covid spike again. And Taiwan is being threatened by China's military drill after the new President's official inauguration. Despite all these, we keep praying and praying. The Lord is in control and He knows the best!

Now, India is on the process of election for the new term. Yesterday, I cast my vote for the candidate and party I deemed best. Though I had my discernment from the so called political analysis, and though I prayed earnestly and daily for the burden within me, I am ready to accept whatever result the Lord would give. No matter who rules in India, the real Rural is God on the throne in the heaven. Until the result be declared on 4th June, I will still pray earnestly to the Lord for what I felt I should pray for. Whether my desire be fulfilled or not, or my prayers answered or not, I will amen whatever the result and submit to the Lord’s deputy authority no matter who or which party comes to rule this country. 

In all these processes too, I enjoyed spending time with the Lord in prayer. Most of my prayers these days are for the country to be opened for the gospel of the Kingdom.

All these are ways and opportunities to pray, pray, and pray. The environmental arrangement of the Lord makes me learn how to pray unceasingly. 

Unceasingly pray, 

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

(1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, RecVer)

Ministry of the Word to Tirupati

Tirupati, the temple city of Hindu deities, was not new to my ears, except for my eyes. Time and again, I have heard and read about as it has been religiously frequented by many who placed their faith in the dieties. This was also one of the cities I wished to visit. This time, I could finally make it. But we arrived at the city late in the night and was surprisingly greeted with an abundance of nonveg food at a hotel, contrary to the notion of vegetarianism associated to the same faith in the North. The room that I and a brother was lodged in had a framed photos of two deities, black faces religiously adorned. As usual, I read my Bible straight facing the idol frames as I could not read for the day due to long drive. Interestingly, my Bible reading portion was on Exodus 20 onwards. 

And God spoke all these words, saying, I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the slave house; You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, nor the form of anything that is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water beneath the earth. You shall not bow down to them, and you shall not serve them; for I, Jehovah your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, (Exodus 20:1-5, RecVer)

What a timely word! What an exposition of the truth! What a revelation of the true and living God!

As I slept, the Lord burdened me with a message on "Open Vessel" from 2 Timothy. Even in a dream, the Lord gave me verse by verse, point by point of what to minister to the saints in the church in Tirupati! The message was clear and the burden heavy.

The following day, when the brothers asked me to minister the word after the Lord’s table meeting, I ministered on the need to be an open vessel to the Lord, for growth in the divine life, for the building up of the Body of Christ, for the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose. Touching upon the background in which 2 Timothy was written with the burden to overcome the degraded situation of the church and the backslidden condition of the saints, the key burden was on the exercise of the human spirit with a stress on the eternal life, the divine truth, and the Holy Scriptures (chs 1, 2 ,3).

For which cause I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of sobermindedness. (2 Timothy 1:6-7, RecVer)

A good number of saints testified of the help they received and the enjoyment they had from the ministry of the word. The, we went to meet four of the old, big and famous Christian Pastors in Tirupati. All fo them appreciated the truth so much upon hearing the introduction of the Holy Bible Recovery Version and purchased them immediately! The Lord truly blessed the ministry of the word in Tirupati!

The next day, a Pastors' gathering was called for, wherein I ministered on the all-inclusive Christ typified by the good and spacious land in Exodus 3:8, Ephesians 3:8 and Deuteronomy 8:7-10. The Lord imparted this burden on the all-inclusive Christ as I considered and prayed for His timely word for the Christian leaders. All the brothers were richly supplied with the ministry of the word! Having thus accomplished the burden for this time, the last stop being the city Tirupati, I worship the Lord for His sovereignty and blessing.

In the local church too, the leading brothers have testified to me that our visit this time was a very timely visit. They have been struggling with coordination and oneness, but this visit and all the fellowship we enjoyed together have opened up the mysterious ministry hidden to them for years now. Four of the brothers personally testified to me that the Lord had cleared up their long pending enigma on the ministry and the practices of the church life in the Lord’s recovery. I had no idea about their condition before I came, neither did I have any intention to know, much less, try to help them. I simply followed the Spirit's anointing within and upon me and faithfully ministered the word using the ministry literature. 

Jesus is Lord in Tirupati!

Christ is Victor in Tirupati!

Lord, bless Your testimony in Tirupati!

You are the true and living God!

So shall it be made known to all the pilgrims and residents of this city of the deities.

Ministry of the Word to Pulivendula, Kadapa

Pulivendula, a small town in Kadapa district was well developed beyond many  metropolitan cities I have visited in India. The reason was obvious. It was the home town of the present Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. I wish all the cities and towns in India would be developed in the same pattern.

Our first meeting in this town was with two professors from JNTU, one from the English and the other from the Computer Science department. They both were Christian leaders in the campus and one of them a Bible teacher and preacher among college and university students. After a detail and meticulous explanation and their patient and careful hearing, they both appreciated the Recovery Version Bible so much and purchased both the English and Telegu versions!

In the evening, a group of Christian leaders, seekers, and saints were invited for a meeting where I ministered on God's Economy. In fact, the Lord burdened me on this truth while on the way to this town. Verse by verse, point by point, I ministered on God's economy of dispensing the divine life to His children and the processes He took in creating man with body, soul, and spirit and His passing through incarnation, human living, crucifixion, resurrection, and becoming the life-giving Spirit to dispense into man's spirit. And then, the dispensing from the spirit to the soul and to the Body and God heading up all things in Christ. Though the topic seems high and difficult to understand, but with the enjoyment of God's economy subjectively day by day, the message was delivered in a very simply yet profound way, enjoyable to the audience. Now, I practically agree that the high peak truth is understandable and enjoyable depending upon the minister himself understanding and enjoying the high peak truth.

The following day, we visited a village evangelised and shepherded by a brother located at about half an hour drive from the town, a rocky valley village, Kondagattupalle. Then, we had family visits, shepherding the saints. As the main leading brother requested for a word of love for his family, I ministered on the importance of reading the Bible, prayer, seeking God’s will, family prayers, Life-study pursuit, the need for secular education too to encourage the young people, and then prayed for the saints. We also visited the YS Reddy's family, introduced the ministry, and prayed for the family.

Thus, the burden for Pulivendula was released. 

May the Lord strengthen the church life in Pulivendula!

Ministry of the Word to Badvel and Kadapa

Early in the morning we arrived in Badvel and went straight to the hotel room the brothers booked for us. After a few hours of rest, we had a time of ministering the word to a group of Christian leaders. The burden the Lord gave me was on "One God, One Work, One Goal" expounding Ephesians 4:11-13 along with my personal testimony of salvation experience. Right after the meeting, a brother came and testified that his doubt about salvation in the Bible has been cleared finally. A good number of brothers were fellowshipping after the meeting about the truth they just heard. They testified that they were made clear of the one ministry amidst the confusion in Christianity of many ministries. 

Then, as we met one of the leading Christian leaders from a mainline church, he was very impressed by the truth in the Holy Bible Recovery Version. He asked me what theological degree I had and which Bible college I went to. To his surprise I answered, I did not go to any theological college nor have any theological degree, but I testifed to him that I read and study the Bible everyday with helpful Christian books. He was so impressed and immediately purchased a copy of the English and Telegu Recovery Version Bible for himself. He even promised to invite us for a big Pastors gathering in Ananthapuram a few months later thia year. It was because of this and time constraint that we skipped Ananthapuram this time though it was in the plan. Later, as we met another mainline Christian leader, he also immediately purchased the Recovery Version. This time again, they were hearing about the Recovery Version for the first time! 

In the evening, we had a time of fellowship with a sister's family whose mother was baptised and was give a new name, Priscilla. Then, we enjoyed a lovefeast fellowship over dinner with the responsible brothers.

The following day, we went to Kadapa city and ministered the word on the qualifications of God’s called ones in Exodus 3 and 4 from the life of Moses highlighting the key points on the purpose of God's calling, the subjective signs of God’s calling expounding on the staff turning serpent, the bosom becoming leprous, the Nile water turning blood on dry land, the cutting of a foreskin, and the matching of Moses with Aaron. In fact, the Lord gave me this burden a few hours before actually ministering it. As the brothers who volunteered to accompany me were relatively new to the church life and I felt they still need to learn the truth. This message became very timely for all the brothers who accompanied me. They testified that many of their doubts about serving the Lord were cleared. One brother thought he needed money and material riches to be able to serve the Lord. But the Lord’s speaking made it clear that the source of service should only be God and God alone, others the Lord will take care.

Then, we moved on to the next destination, Pulivendula.

Lord, bless Your testimony in Badvel and raise up the church in Kadpa soon!

Ministry of the Word to Kurnool

In the last ministry literature distribution trip to AP and T, it became clear that there is a need to visit city by city, town by town, even village by village, and meet Christian leaders and seekers for the introduction of the ministry literature, especially the Recovery Version Bible in Telugu and English. It was then that another trip was planned to the unfathomed region, Rayalaseema. This time round, right after the Serving Ones Training in Hyderabad, we embarked on another ministry journey to a few select cities and towns of Rayalaseema. 

Our first destination was Kurnool. A brother who is also one of the serving ones in the literature service gave us hospitality. A meeting with Christian leaders were planned for two days, in addition to visiting some select Christian leaders personally at their homes. In all the meetings, the Lord richly blessed the ministry literature introduction as the local church brothers also coordinated with us. To my surprise, all of these ones were hearing about the Recovery Version of the Bible for the first time. This indeed made the visit even more worthwhile. 

One afternoon, there was a meeting with groups of Christian leaders where we were given the opportunity to introduce the ministry literature which was also video recorded. Then, a time of fellowship with two medical doctor brothers in the hospital owned by one of them. The Lord burdened me to minister the word on receiving the word of God by breathing in the Scriptures that is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). And all this, for the building up of the Body of Christ in the one unique ministry by faithfully carrying out our portion, our ministry, in the one ministry. I then prayed for the two doctor brothers and gifted the owner of the hospital my used outline of the recent training for his study of the truth as he missed the training.

On a Tuesday prayer meeting night, on the request of the brothers, I fellowshipped with the saints on loving the Lord as the main motivating factor for the practice of the God-ordained way. The saints were so supplied with the fellowship. Even, I myself was richly supplied. Praise the Lord for His timely speaking!

We also met a medical doctor brother who takes care of one of the biggest Christian groups in the city. To him too, the Recovery Version was introduced. Though new to him, he appreciated the content in it and purchased a copy for himself immediately and also paid extra amount as an offering.

In the request of the brothers, I also visited and fellowshipped with three responsible brothers' families of the church in Kurnool. One of the brothers' daughter was to get married two days later, for which I prayed for the family. Another brother and his wife requested me to share my testimony of salvation and how the Lord ushered me to the church life, which I did. And yet another brother requested a special fellowship for him and his wife, along with a newly married brother, so I fellowshipped about the need to love the Lord Jesus Christ and by His love only can spouses love one another, and exercising to be one with the Lord and be one with one another. I emphasized that this is the secrete to receiving the Lord’s blessing in a family life.

Thus, having enjoyed the Lord’s blessing in Kurnool, we moved forward to the next city Badvel.

Lord, bless Your testimony in Kurnool!

Snippets from Fellowship 7-9 May 2024

In fellowship with a senior brother, new light and revelation were bestowed upon me. Though much of the fellowship were absorbed inwardly and rather subjective, some of them can be articulated for future reference or perhaps, to serve as reminder. Herein I record them as snippets, a gleaning from the fellowship of iur spiritual farm.

As a minister of God’s word, we must always keep the word fresh in our being. Be careful to store the word of God. This requires a person to be one who is dwelling and abiding in the word of God. The word must operate in us; the more the word operates, the more the word shines. The anointing Spirit makes the word fresh and shining. Whatever we have received through teaching or revelation must be kept fresh. Then, the saints will receive the life supply. The Lord's teaching does give knowledge but they are outward instruments to convey the inward revelation.

The Lord need brothers who can speak the word of God and minister God as light and revelation. 

The God of glory appeared to Abraham. It pleased the Father to reveal the Son in us and announce the gospel in us. When we receive more and more revelation concerning Christ, we receive light. 

Abraham left his Father because he saw the revelation and obeyed. Revelation then produces faith. This should be a daily event. 

Do not underestimate the simple things.

How do you gain the revelations?

It all begin by seeing the revelation. God use time. Abraham’s experiences in time frames. 73+20+17+17 years, a toral of127 years.

Exercise your spirit even to the point that it becomes a habit.

The Holy Spirit always guide us. The Spirit reminds you of what you what He has revealed.

We need the Holy Word opened to us.

We need light in our understanding.

Where death operates, light operates. 

Gain the storehouse of nourishing and enduring word. Gain this unique possession. The most important thing is to gain the unique possession, no matter what we do. Gather the unique possession. Do not look for the outward thing.

On Persecution

If you are reproached in the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. For let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler into others’ affairs; But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name. (1 Peter 4:14-16, RecVer)

To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, If perhaps I may attain to the out-resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11, RecVer)

The Lord’s recovery is watered by the blood of martyrs. Where death operates, life operates. Even Hudson Taylor's coworkers where martyred in China. In 1910, many prayers have been offered by the saints for the persecuted Christians. Br. Watchman Nee was raised up during this period. The first generation coworkers, except for few, all died in the prison. 

Do not compromise. Be faithful unto death. Persecution is not strange. Be properly ambitious before the Lord. We do not know how long we can freely preach the full gospel. Where persecution is the highest, there the Christian population is also the highest. Where persecution is, resurrected will be.

Build up a local church and send people out.

Love the Lord Jesus and the word of God. 

If people love the word of God, half the work is done. The word will operate in them. A regenerated man has the capacity and taste of the word of God. Blend the saints into one without any preference. Only the one who is bendable can blend others. 

Jealousy and selfish ambition go together. Deny the self, forsake the soul life, and agree with the Lord. Jealousy has to be killed. Otherwise, the church cannot be built.

Our learning has to be completed. Appreciate your brother and learn from him. We need one another. Learn the lesson of knowing who you are not. Bear the cross. This will liberate us. Accept the brothers' portion and that will make you complete. 

Generalist

To be able to do a little bit of everything. That doesn't mean we should not be specific. We need to have many learnings and be balanced. If we only are specific, we don't know there are many necessary lessons to build up the Body of Christ. 

For example, an evangelist must know how to shepherd, teach, and build up the Body of Christ, in addition to evangelism. The more we learn different aspects, the more we know when and how much to emphasize. To be an adequate apostles, he must be a generalist. 

On Ephesians 4:11

Not everyone is an apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher, but everyone must be able to function as any gifted ones.

Learn to be a generalist. Teaching and shepherding are the most important gift.

To be good shepherd and teacher is to pray for. Be a generalist. Humble yourself. Appreciate your brothers' function. Be balanced. 

"Watchman Nee is the most balanced person," said Witness Lee.

Even if the increase comes, you should never feel that the increase was because of you. Don't exalt anyone aspect. 

Or he who exhorts, in that exhortation; he who gives, in simplicity; he who leads, in diligence; he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness. (Romans 12:8, RecVer)

A gift of who can lead. Study 2 Samuel 23, its an example of "he who leads."

Everything we do has to be for the building up.

What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Corinthians 14:26, RecVer)

Your gift must be for the building up, never for tearing down. The safest thing to be is to be a generalist. Do not be so sure of what you think you know.

To be balanced is to be coordinated. Being the oldest may give you the temptation to usurpt the headship of Christ. Being the senior most or the oldest does not make one the head of the church. Only Christ is the Head. There cannot be a "pope" among us. No pontification. Be a slave. The Lord Jesus did nothing apart from the Father. 

"Down with all the popes", write a hymn.

If your hand or leg stumble you, cut it off.

Blend the saints into one. All the lumps and independent items in you be cut off. Be bendable. 

Wherever you serve, does it perfect oneness or damage oneness. It is possible to damage the Body of Christ with good intention. Your natural man must be dealt with, even your good intention. 

You must be blind in the sense that all the saints should be beautiful. You must have many many learnings. As leading one, a big danger is, you like certain kind of brother. Don't choose. Work with whoever the Lord places you with. If you choose, you will suffer. Sometimes, the one you choose may become the biggest opposer. Learn not to choose. 

Time is the best test. Time will manifest who is who. 

Unless you are blind, you cannot discern anything. Learn to look to the Lord. In resurrection, we will have some amount of discernment, by His mercy. We need discernment. Be death to your natural discernment. This is needed to blend the saints together. 

Bring others into function. Love all the brothers. Use all the brothers. Be balanced between discernment and using everyone. 

Do not be narrow hearted, either by selfishness or narrowness and lack of learning. If your learning is enlarged, your heart will be enlarged. 

Sevenfold oil needs sevenfold shining. The lampstands needs seven times more oil.

Hyderabad Visit Again

Again in Hyderabad, I enjoyed a week stay after a longhaul at Bengaluru Airport due to flight delays and cancellations. The visit this time to Hyderabad hit a turbulence. Due to sleepless nights, I could barely be attentive on the first day of the fellowship. However, after a good night sleep, I enjoyed the three days fellowship with a brother. During this fellowship, the Lord worked on me and  certain veils were lifted, which I could only experience and not narrate.

Three days of Serving Ones Training (SOT) followed suit. Message after message, I was richly supplied again on my need to be a vessel unto honor by the empowering grace of God in the one ministry unto the building up of the Body of Christ. I was richly nourished and cherished. The Lord blessed the ministry of the word. And on the last day, I could also share the crucial points of the Lord’s speaking as my portion to the saints as the concluding words along with few other brothers. Inwardly and outwardly, I could sense the Lord’s hand following His words. The depth of the Lord’s work within me during these few days of fellowship was unfathomable. I may recall these fews days and may rightly term it as as the Lord’s intensified training. 

During the training too, I had a time of prayer and fellowship with a brother, a mutual shepherding, in addition to meeting some saints that was truly needed; three of them were just married, one about to get married, and another two with marital issues. To a brother, I sent a message of Bible verses warning him about divorce which the Lord hate after encouraging him to pray that the Lord would recover His marriage. 

After the training, I had a day to settle materials for proofreading works to be held in Bengaluru this year which was also my official duty.

As we enjoyed a lunch lovefeast at a brother's home, the Lord burdened me to spend time with two families, two mothers, and three sisters in school, college, and about to take up a job. The burden released was on helping them in three things I shared with my own testimony on each burden. First, the daily reading of the Bible, second daily personal prayer, and third seeking the perfect will of the Lord for everything in our Christian life.

I do believe that was the timely word for all the sisters, both mothers and daughters. Then, I received a message from my wife about my daughter's matriculation board exam result. As per her skill and interest, she scored 92% in English Language and Literature. That was amazing! Other subjects were above average and good enough as she would not purse those hereafter.

Then, a brother and I left for Kurnool to embark on a week-long ministry literature journey to Rayalaseema (Andhra Pradesh).

That was a fruitful visit to Hyderabad one more time. Thank You Lord for Your grace.

From This Day, I will Bless You!

Is there yet seed in the barn? Indeed even the vine and the fig tree and the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit; from this day I will bless you. (Haggai 2:19, RecVer)

Turn to the stronghold, O prisoners with hope. This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you. (Zechariah 9:12, RecVer)

Today, as we concluded the weekend Serving Ones Training (SOT) In Hyderabad, the Lord did a marvelous work in my inward being. I experienced the Lord lifting away a heavy burden I had been bearing all these years. It was to do with my inward struggle, dealing with my self and natural man. As the Lord spoke and spoke His living and timely words, He unveiled me layer by layer. He also showed my being the divine light that penetrated deep within, brightening me up inwardly to the extend that I experienced a new birth into a new realm, the divine and mystical realm. It was indeed a great spiritual experience, and perhaps a second salvation! As we fellowshipped and fellowshipped on God's word, the Lord showered upon me Himself as the blessing! It all transpired through His speaking in the fellowship, in the training, and even personally. And He Himself spoke the living word to me, "from this day I will bless you (Haggai 2:19, RecVer)" and " I will restore double to you. (Zechariah 9:12, RecVer)."

The past few weeks and days, I had been through intense heat and pressure deep within my inward being. I could only confide in the Lord and take the cross. The bearing of the cross is not that easy. If not for the grace of God, I would have quit already. Self denial, giving up opinion and preferences, taking up the cross, and accepting every arrangement of the Lord in the Body were all graced to me one after the other. There was even a point when I inwardly told the Lord, "Enough, I can bear no longer. Have mercy on me Lord!" With all these gracious experiences, the Lord finally showed me the great light at the end of the long and dark tunnel! Hallelujah!

Surely, His mercy and goodness has followed me. I got a great deliverance! Last night, after hectic schedule with the training and meeting with the saints, I also spent time in prayer till midnight with a brother. This morning, in the freshness of the Lord’s presence I enjoyed the Lord’s Table meeting. Then, in coordination with a co-working brother, we presented the literature service burden, and then we had the final message on the one unique ministry.

I was so supplied by the ministry of the word. At the end of the message, along with other brothers, a concluding word was ministered. Though impromptu, the word the Lord gave me to minister on this lines. 

"It is the Lord’s mercy that we are in His recovery today. Not because of any of our merits, not even because of our loving the Lord or seeking the Lord, but because He has shown His mercy upon us, that captured us with truth and graced us to be in His recovery. Yes, we need to be vessel unto honor by being an open vessel and receive the breathing of God which is His Scriptures 2 Tim 3:16 that teaches us, gives us revelation, convicts us, corrects us, and instructs us in righteousness that we may be a man of God fully equipped. Then, in the one unique ministry, as we have a portion in it too, we can function for the building up of the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:11, 12)."

Later, as I read my daily portion of the word of God, He spoke to confirm my experience 

by giving me the living word, "from this day I will bless you (Haggai 2:19, RecVer)" and " I will restore double to you. (Zechariah 9:12, RecVer)." 

Beside, today I completed the forty-forth time of my Bible reading!

O what a salvation! O What a release and blessing! Bless me Lord, from this day! Restor double to me! Amen!

Chain Delay

At Bengaluru Airport, I encountered a unique situation for the first time ever in my life. I may not know the reason now, though I may be able to guess it. Perhaps, a fate or test of patience? Only God knows. This incident was really an experience of a life time. Truly incredible?

A few months ago I planned this trip, clubbing together the finalization of a proofreading project in Bengaluru with the fellowship and training in Hyderabad. So, I booked a multicity flights, Delhi-Bengaluru-Hyderabad on 6th and 7th May respectively. For the flight from Delhi to Bengaluru, my brother could not make it, neither could I cancel it. So, the price of a flight ticket was gone.

After all the works in Bengaluru, my flight to Hyderabad by Air India Express faced a unique situation. First, the flight was preponed. Then, I prepared to leave accordingly. Just as I left for the Airport, I received a message stating that the flight was delayed by about two hours. That give me enough time to access the lounge and had my lunch, did some  reading, and blogging.

At 4 PM, when it was time for deparure, another message came mentioning the further delay, pushing down the time to 6:15 PM. Again, another ample time in my hand, I continued my reading and blogging till 6 PM only to be told that the flight got further delayed till 7:45 PM. Another test of patience? Yet, when it was 8:30 PM, a phone call and a mail came to convey that the flight was canceled at the last minute. What else could I do, except to accept the fact?

People got panicked. A lot of argument ensued. It was a clash of the emotionally charged mental "titans." It was all needless and pointless to argue about a situation beyond human control. All this while, the sole reason for the chain delays was "operational issue." The fact of the matter was, there was a heavy downpour in Hyderabad that diverted most of the flights. It was an unavoidable circumstantial situation beyond human control. To me, simply accept the fact and let it go. Others may sure beg to differ. Well, opinion and feeling cannot change the fact. Amidst uncertainty, be quite, calm down, accept, and be at peace. This was the time silence was indeed golden.

I, therefore, considered carefully and looked to the Lord what to do. Quite and clam, I decided to cancel from the two options given, cancel or adjust to the next day afternoon flight. As I went to cancel, I received a message from the Airline itself stating that the flight was cancelled.

The next decision I made was to book the earliest flight for the next day, and got it confirmed at 3:00 AM by Indigo Airlines. So, I got out of T2 and went to T1 for this flight. This gave me another 6 hours time. So I wrote a blog. Then, a message of cancellation of this flight was sent to me. This forced me to get the help of the customer care and rescheduled to the next flight at 3:05 AM. Mind you, 5 minutes difference made the Airline cancel the flight, again due to an unknown operational reason. Having thus had sufficient time again, I spent time at another lounge, enjoyed my dinner,  and completed my Bible reading for the day. In a row, I enjoyed a double lounge benefit!

When it was time to board, there was yet another commotion at the boarding counter. Another confusion ensued as angry passengers argued with clueless staff members. Because, the flight was further delayed by an hour again. The situation became so heated that security personnel had to be summoned. I patiently and calmly sat down amidst the commotion, and started blogging this experience. What better thing to do than to write this unique experience? When I was done, finally boarding started.

I boarded and blogged this experience as I sat on my specially allocated seat, near the emergency door. What an incredible experience in this incredible India! A chain delay of flights. Life lesson: Things happened, just accept the fact. 

By this chain delay, I finished all my pending reading of daily portion of the Bible for two days and ministry messages along with double lounge benefits.

Happy journey! Bon voyage! 

Lord, journey mercy.

Counted Worthy!

And they were persuaded by him. And having called the apostles to them, they beat them and charged them not to speak based upon the name of Jesus; and they released them. 

So they went from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. 

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and announcing the gospel of Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:40-42, RecVer)

The apostles set the pattern of the gospel living for all the believers to follow suit. In the principle of the first happening, what the apostles were counted worthy of, by being persecuted in the name of Jesus, all the believers thereafter repeated the same experience. Today and tomorrow, it is the same narrow, constricted, and persecuted path that has been laid for the believers in the same Lord Jesus Christ. The path has been laid, but it is up to the Lord when His children will actually walk this path and be persecuted at the same time. According to the Scriptures, those whom the Lord allowed and graced to walk the path of persecution were counted worthy of the Lord. In actuality, in a very positive and spiritual sense, it is an honor to be persecuted in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder if I will be graced to be able get this honor. It's all up to the Lord’s sovereignty. Only time will tell.

Last Lord's day, I was informed of the imprisonment of six of our young saints who were preaching the gospel in Noida. When I heard the matter, it was a shocking surprise. Because, as per the law of the land quoted below, what transpired should not have been legally correct.

Article 25, Constitution of India 1950

(Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion). It guarantees the freedom of conscience, the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate religion to all citizens.

However, the world we live in is always against Christ. Satanic forces were behind instigating persecution to the children of God. It was then during the apostles' time, so it is now in our time, in our nation. Nothing new, and nothing to surprised of. Satan's kingdom has been shaken! He then breathed threatening knowing fully well, his time of execution of the Lord Jesus' victory at the cross is near. But all his deeds will only strengthen the Lord’s move and serve as a wake up call to all sleeping Christians. What Satan meant for harm, the Lord overturned it as a timely good for His children. Praise the Lord!

Sincerely, I worship the Lord for allowing persecution to His beloved children. My appreciation and regard for these young siants have shot up due to this incident. My eyes became more widely opened to the Lord’s move in North India. I could perceive that this is a new beginning among the Hindi heartland for His testimony. Amidst saffronisation and amidst persecution, the glorious banner has been raised up high, "Jesus is Lord, Christ is Victor!"

Yet on the human side, I also have a prayer and concern for those still in bonds. I pray daily for the Lord’s covering upon them, for His grace to supply and sustain them, that they would experience and gain the Lord much much more. And that they also be released and all charges dropped soon. I beseech the sovereign Lord for their early release and timely intervention. Until then, my prayer will follow on. Despite all, the gospel preaching should go on, day by day, house to house, as the apostle did so.

What a grace to be counted worthy to suffer in His name! This is rejoice worthy! 

An Experience in Bengaluru

Yesterday morning I arrived in Bengaluru and put up at CEO Centre SAICS, the proposed venue for the upcoming Kannada proofreading project in July-Agust this year. I had to come alone as my brother had to take care of urgent situation that transpired in Noida last weekend. Nonetheless, three other brothers from Bengaluru accompanied me to take care of the trial run of the food quality for the proposed project. Thereafter, we had a time of fellowship with the potential volunteers for the same. The Lord took care of all the matters in a wise way, though not expected.

The moment I arrived, I spent time with the manager of the venue and briefed him of all the practical details and some foreseen situations. Then, step by step, the Lord led me through in all the tasks that needed my attention and accomplished the purposes of my visit to Bengaluru. One thing that was unavoidable was the long time spent in commuting between places. Hours and hours were eaten up in traveling within the city. But that also turned that to a wonderful time of fellowship with the brothers. 

One brother, in particular, took his driving me as an opportunity to share to me how much he has been helped to read the Bible. He testifed that he never was used to reading even his own academic books, much less the Bible. He had been struggling in the past to breakthrough in Bible reading. But his breakthrough came only recently as a brother helped him with the way to read the Bible and gave an example of me reading the Bible as he saw me reading many times. Last year in Belgaum, he physically saw me reading the Bible in hotel room where he chanced to enter. I had no intention of showing to anyone my Bible reading. Since I had time, I just read as I used to do so. That incident created a great impression on him and since then he has been exerciseing to read the Bible, taking me as his pattern. Then, the Lord gave him a breakthrough and now he has been reading for about an hour each day about ten chapters. In addition, he also impressed his wife and another sister to do the same, giving my pattern. Now, all the three have been reading the Bible regularly. 

He took the time to share this and thanked the Lord for the help. I had no special feeling as such, because it is purely the Lord’s mercy that I can read the Bible.  Nothing to be proud of. My simple reply is, "Praise the Lord!" If someone could be help, it is because God has helped me. It is all God’s work, and I am only a vessel. Besides the Bible reading, I also encouraged him to be a man of prayer. The word and prayer should always go together. 

As I left for the Airport to catch my flight to Hyderabad, I just received a phone call informing me of the flight delay. I had already checked out so I went ahead even though too early and I decided to use the Airport lounge. At the Airport, I first spent time reading my Bible again, my daily portion, as usual. Then, I accessed the lounge, enjoyed the abundant supply of food to my heart's content. Afterwhich, I enjoyed a ministry portion which I also posted in some WhatsApp group. 

As I exit the lounge to board the delayed flight, it was further delayed. That gave me time to enjoy more ministry materials, and also write a blog that has been pending concerning prayer for the present poll, the general election going on in India. Once I was done and the time arrived for boarding, there was a further delay. So much commotion occurred at the boarding counter, passengers were complaining about the delay, and relay delays, and some cancelling or changing flights. The matter did not matter to me at all. For I know God is in control. This delay only gave me more time to keep writing about my experiences. 

In this case too, all things worked together for good. I am happy waiting as I know God has yet another wonderful plan for me. Time will reveal soon.

God us good! Yes, He is good, all the time, in all things. So, I give thanks to Him at all times and also for all things.

This is a wonderful impromptu experiences in Bengaluru. What a rest when others are restless. For I know my God.

Giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father, (Ephesians 5:20, RecVer)

Prayer for the Present Poll

And I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will stop the arrogance of the proud, And the haughtiness of the terrible I will abase. (Isaiah 13:11, RecVer)

The ruling dispensation of the present regime has its days numbered. The decade long rule has manifested it's true color of its extremist ideology. The politically right wing has been flapped to take off the country to its utopian dream of making the entire nation sing its bigoted song of nationalism. The majority of the Central agencies have followed suit in joining the enthralling chorus. Though I tried to be apolitical, I cannot neglect my rights as a citizen born in the flesh, of this country. As much as I have the right to vote, with that comes along my freedom to choose which party or who to vote for, I will yet again exercise my franchise, as I deem best according to my observation of the nation I live in. 

My discernment is based on my fellowship with the true and living God with Whom I have been in a relationship with, since I was born again some seventeen years ago. In my prayer and consideration, even in my reading of the Holy Scriptures, it has been made known to me that the fate of the proud and arrogant must be meted with defeat and humiliation. This is according to God's sovereignty. And such defeat will be the timely medicine to humble oneself and acknowledged and fear the true and living God. O how I pray that God’s will be done.

Incidents after incidents, it has also been made more clear to me that, God willing, the rule of the arrogance must be put to an end. The Holy Scriptures reveals the desire of God’s heart; that all men be saved and be brought to the full knowledge of the truth. Anything or anyone trying to stop God’s word may do so at the expense of facing God’s wrath. I fear God,  and I also fear God for those who do not fear God. Therefore, for the good of all, I pray for the hand of God to abase the arrogant and uplift the lowly. Such deeds of God would be a befitting reply to those politically powerful and proud party that provokes the politically poor people.

I could be wrong, if so, may God forgive me. But my understanding of the present politcal scenario is, the defeat of the dictatorial dominant and the victory of the vile valor would best balance the socio-religious-politico imbalance. I humbly plead the righteous Judge to deliver justice due to the people of this nation. May God save India for His testimony. Yes, God bless India!

Since a few months ago, as the poll bungle sounded in my inner ear, I have been praying for the salvation of the people of India from anything that is not of God. In course of time even as I prayed daily for the good of this nation I am born into, I became more and more clear that a change of regime is due now. One day as I read the Scriptures, a couple of verses enlightened me to see how God dealt with the proud and arrogant rulers in the history of the nation recorded therein. Then a week ago, I had peace within my being during my prayer time as I prayed for this nation that God has indeed hear my prayers, and also the prayers of many saints. Then, a day later after that, six of God’s children have been arrested and charged with whatever charges the religious fanatics could convince the police with, under this ruling dispensation. This became enough evidence to present before the Heavely Judge to delivery justice righteously in due time. Yes, I presented my plea before the Honourable Supreme Judge of all. "Lord, hear my case. Do not delay."

Despite all these boasting and shameful display of arrogance, may the King of kings, the Lord of lords, rule in wisdom and let the whole world know that "Heaven Do Rule."

All said, still only God’s perfect will be done. God knows best how to be God indeed. I will and always accept God’s will despite my personal perception. Amen and amen to whatever God decides. Only God’s will be done. Amen.

Lord, save India!

Lord, bless India!