Ministry of the Word in Belagavi

The ministry journey to Karnataka for this time came to a conclusion in the church in Belagavi. Here the brothers made a specially arrangement for all the saints to come together for fellowship. Since my time was limited just to an evening time of few hours, we could not meet any Christian leaders for the ministry books introduction. Rather, the Lord led me to minister to the saints His timely words. And the local brothers picked up the burden to carry on the work of ministry books introduction and distribution. This was also the Lord’s perfect arrangement. 

As we met for fellowship, I testified of how the Lord led us in our ministry literature journey to different parts of Karnataka. The saints were very encouraged by what the Lord has done. Then, we formally began the meeting by singing a hymn, 499 "Oh, what a life! Oh, what a peace! This hymn set the tone and the burden for the ministry of the word to the saints. Thus, the Lord blessed the fellowship with the rich ministry of life with the following verses being ministerd and expounded.

A Christian life is a life of living. 

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

A normal Christian life is possible only by being crucified with Christ issuing in "no longer I but Christ who lives in me."

I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20, RecVer)

In our Christian for the church-life, coordination is crucial for the building up. Therefore, the self must be dealt with, without which coordination is impractical. To follow the Lord requires the denying of the self, the carry of the cross, and the losing of the soul life. For this, we must be joined in soul, thinking the same thing, being lowly in mind, and having the mind of Christ.

Make my joy full, that you think the same thing, having the same love, joined in soul, thinking the one thing, Doing nothing by way of selfish ambition nor by way of vainglory, but in lowliness of mind considering one another more excellent than yourselves; Not regarding each his own virtues, but each the virtues of others also. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:2-5, RecVer)

I exhort Euodias, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same thing in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, genuine yokefellow, assist them, since they contended with me in the gospel, as well as with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:2-3, RecVer)

As Christians, we must daily exercise our spirit to walk by the Spirit in a general way. 

But I say, Walk by the Spirit and you shall by no means fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16, RecVer)

As Christians, we must also walk by the Spirit with the specific goal of fulfilling God’s eternal purpose of building up of the church, the Body of Christ.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25, RecVer)

All spiritual experiences and enjoyment are for the one goal of accomplishing God’s heart's desire concerning the church for which coordination is a crucial matter.

Then, the saints testified of the Lord speaking to them concerning their timely need in the church there and the light and revelation they received afresh from the ministry of the word. We concluded the meeting by prayer. What a wonderful conclusion indeed for this ministry journey!

Praise the Lord!