Rejoice in the Lord Always!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4, RecVer)

Today, as the church, we came together in the home of a brother who was just released after a hundred thirty two days of confinement in Mathura for the sake of the gospel on charge of false accusation when they were simply meeting as Christian brothers and sisters. Since then, it has been a trying time for the churches in North India. Nevertheless, the Lord has been faithfully shepherding all the churches in His way. O we have learned a lot of spiritual lessons and life lessons during these times of trials. Our prayers have been intensified and the way we live our church life has also been adjusted very much. As for me, I have learned some important lessons. Officially, spiritually, and personally my view of things have been adjusted greatly. I could see things in deeper and clearer ways which otherwise, I could never have seen. Even my view about India and its political atmosphere have changed. I could see things clearly; things of the present and things of the future. What a wakeup call! Lord Jesus!

After the brothers were released, we all entered into the video training in Delhi as it was on the weekend. On Monday, we had a time of fellowship with all the five brothers with their family members in Delhi. Some shared their spiritual learnings, some shared words of encouragement, some shared their experiences, and some shared what transpired in the prison. The conclusion of the matter was: God is sovereign, we are nothing, we can do nothing, God is everything and God can do everything. Therefore, commit yourself fully to the Lord. The Lord will do His work.

We have to walk the way of faith after entering into the gate of faith. Just trust and obey, the Lord will do His work as He led the children of Israel into victory over Jericho.

So then let those also who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19, RecVer)

Beloved, do not think that the fiery ordeal among you, coming to you for a trial, is strange, as if it were a strange thing happening to you; But inasmuch as you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice exultingly. 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. For it is time for the judgment to begin from the house of God; and if first from us, what will be the end of those who disobey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:12-17, RecVer)

Today, the 4th of February, we had a time of fellowship, prayer, and thanksgiving. We began with a hymn on rejoicing.

E717

1

O let us rejoice in the Lord evermore,

Though all things around us be trying,

Though floods of affliction like sea

billows roar,

It's better to sing than be sighing.

Then rejoice evermore, rejoice evermore,

It is better to sing than be sighing:

It is better to live than be dying;

So let us rejoice evermore.

2

O let us rejoice in the Lord evermore,

When the darts of the tempter are flying,

For Satan still dreads, as he oft did of yore,

Our singing much more than our sighing.

3

O let us rejoice in the Lord evermore,

When sickness upon us is stealing,

No cordial like gladness our strength can restore,

For joy is the fountain of healing.

Then, the saints prayed one by one followed by a brother sharing their experiences and enjoyment in the prison. Almost the entire church turned up and we all rejoiced together for all the things the Lord has done. Praise the Lord for all these experiences!

We enjoyed our dinner lovefeast. And read the word of God as warnings to pay heed to.

Therefore we ought to give heed more abundantly to the things which have been heard lest perhaps we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved firm and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, How shall we escape if we have neglected so great a salvation, which, having had its beginning in being spoken by the Lord, has been confirmed to us by those who heard, God bearing witness with them both by signs and wonders and by various works of power and by distributions of the Holy Spirit according to His will? (Hebrews 2:1-4, RecVer)

Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the provocation, in the day of trial in the wilderness, (Hebrews 3:7-8, RecVer)

Let us fear therefore, lest, a promise being left of entering into His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. (Hebrews 4:1, RecVer)

Therefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us be brought on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God, (Hebrews 6:1, RecVer)

Let us come forward to the Holy of Holies with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22, RecVer)

Therefore let us also, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, put away every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and run with endurance the race which is set before us, Looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2, RecVer)

With all these speakings and readings, we concluded our fellowship. Hallelujah!