Lord's Day in USA

Today, as visiting saints from India, we attended the Lord’s Table Meeting at the English speaking district of the church in Irvine. Every year, the church in Irvine gave us hospitality for those attending the live semiannual training and we git to attend the church meeting on the Lord’s Day. What a grace! 

Today, the prophesying meeting of the church was on the one new man. As the brothers opened up the meeting for prophesying, the Lord led me to share my portion to the Body. As I have been experiencing the truth of the reality of baptism, I connected it with the reality of the one new man. Two Bible verses that I based my prophesying are on the following.

Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, (Ephesians 2:15, RecVer)

Or are you ignorant that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? We have been buried therefore with Him through baptism into His death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we might walk in newness of life. For if we have grown together with Him in the likeness of His death, indeed we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5, RecVer)

Christ has created the one new man at the cross. We have been baptized into His death. To be in the reality of the one new man is to live in the reality of baptism. In the one new man, only one Person lives, Christ. In the reality of baptism, everything of Satan, the world, the self, the flesh, the old creation, and all negative things have been crucified. This makes the reality of baptism the living of Christ. Therefore, living in the reality of the one new man is the living in the reality of baptism, which is the living of Christ; no longer I but Christ!

In fact, today morning I enjoyed this portion of the words so much, living in the likeness of His death and His resurrection. What I enjoyed was also what thebLord led me to prophesy. Praise the Lord for the one new man! In fact, in the meeting saints from Europe, UK, India, and other part of USA were present. This was indeed the meeting of the one new man. 

Then, we enjoyed a lovefeast lunch with the Korean speaking saints and later we visited Grace Terrace or Grace Garden Memorial at Rose Hills.

At Grace Garden, a brother in his mid seventies who is also the manager of the garden, gave us an overview of the design and burden of the cemetery. The garden was designed on the theme of the crucial truths in the Lord’s recovery that comprises eight major items of the truth of the Bible. From it's main gate to the end, all the Bible verses and landscaping were on the line of the truth in sequence: God’s economy, the Triune God, the All-inclusive Christ, the Spirit, the Believers, the Church (the Body of Christ), the Kingdom, and the New Jerusalem! From the entrance to the end, there were hymns on these truths, Bibles verses on God’s judicial redemption and God’s organic salvation. This is a dignified and glorious view of the entire Bible. The cemetery was designed with the vision of death being the gateway to the New Jerusalem. 

Prophesying for the building up of the Body of Christ and a view of death and burial as the gateway to the New Jerusalem was experienced today! What a Lord’s Day in USA! Praise the Lord!

Gleanings from USA Visits

This time, a visit to the USA also included the visits to some sightseeing spots, not according to the world's way but according to the leading of the local saints. The saints that we visited have been laboring on their localities and the Lord also blessed them bountifully. We came to witness what the Lord has been doing through their labors. Personally, I have seen the wisdom the Lord gave to the brothers in the way and the places they labor. I have been very much impressed by what I have seen. Besides, the hospitality arrangement for all of us from India was exemplary. 

In addition to the blending and fellowship we enjoyed with the saints in the churches in the Bay Area, we were also led to visit some places of interest. The brothers took all the pains to take us to all these places. What a favor from the Lord that I could be a part of the team from India to be able to participate in this trip. The places that we visited are the following:

• Golden Gate Bridge 
• University of Berkeley 
• Fremont Conference Center
• University of Davis
• Sacraments New Meeting Hall
• Alpha House, a 335 acres in Nevada County
• Hatchery and a Dam on American River
• Old Sacramento 

One thing that impressed me was the wisdom of the brothers in purchasing lands many many years ago and some recent ones. They had the vision for the present need and also for the future plan. The Fremont Conference Center was built with the latest technology has now become useful for the perfecting of the saints of all ages. The Alpha House in Nevada County was very thoughtful for meeting the need of the saints for spiritual retreat as it was an hour drive from the bustling city life, far away enough to be secluded only for spiritual training. This place was once a goldmine and now turned into spiritual goldmine for the saints to gain more gold of the divine life through perfecting training. These visits surely have a great impact on me. 

To all these, I can only thank the Lord and worship Him for all that He has done through the ministry. I have been blessed to glean from all the places we visited. Yes, gleaning from the old creation for the new creation! What a pattern! Praise the Lord!

Revisiting America

The Lord sovereignly arranged another trip for me to vist USA this time. This was my third visit to USA. Despite the political turmoil surround LA in California and the crack down on illegal immigrants, those with legal documents have no issue. This trip was particularly useful for me in many ways. 

First, I was able to complete my assignment of re-listening the recorded messages of our recent training of five days which was held in Hyderabad. This re-listening is one of the requirements for attending the second phase of the training to beheld in August in Chennai. The long hours travel time from my home to New Delhi Airport; then while checking in, passing through security checks and waiting to board the flight; the flight time from New Delhi to Dubai and from Dubai to San Francisco; I was able to complete the assignment. Fourteen sessions of fellowship that were coverd in five days, I was able to go through all of them the second time by utilising all the time required to reach USA. I was freshly supplied by the fellowship, high above the ground in a realm of buoyancy!

Second, this trip enabled me to experience the Lord in a fresh way of living the life of baptism. This was also in line with the present HWMR.

For if we have grown together with Him in the likeness of His death, indeed we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6:5, RecVer)

From Day 1 of my trip to USA, the Lord graced me to experience living in the likeness of His death. This was a precious lesson that had been due for long l in my life experience. Though I shared my personal testimony, a couple of times, of how I got save and how I came into the church life, which I rarely shared, I never had even an inkling of self promotion or self glorification. I exercised my spirit to testify only when asked to testify and limited my words to how much was needed to be spoken within the limited time frame. This was altogether a new learning and a new  experience for me too. Thank God, that this time the Lord gave me the opportunity and the grace to experience Him in His death, and live the life of baptism. Praise the Lord!

Third, in all these places we visited this time, seven local churches in the Bay Area; Hayward, Fremont, Davis, San Francisco, Sacramento, Berkeley, and Burlingame, we enjoyed a sweet coordination among ourselves, the visiting saints from India, in our fellowship, sharing of testimonies and reports, so much so that we could blend well with the saints in all these localities. We were mutually shepherded and we learn from one another. O what a blessed blending in the Body!

These experiences have also testified in reality how much we have been blended and builded up together in the Body. Thank the Lord for such an experience! The ministry has brought in the reality of the one new man. This is not merely an outward trip to USA but a trip of an experience of Christ for the blending and building up in the Body.

As my visits to USA were in the past, this visit also is also a blessed visit. God has blessed America and use this country for His move all over the world. 

God bless America!

Teenagers Training in Gurugram

The things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9, RecVer)

Last weekend we had a three days' teenagers training in Gurugram. This was, in actuality, a training for the families in the church in Gurugram. Since it was proposed to be held in Gurugram, we brothers were trying our best to arrange hospitality in the old training center or hire a convention centre, but nothing worked out. The only option we had was to open our homes and accommodate as many as possible. The arrangements were made in such a way that about eighty plus saints be given hospitality and arrange a meeting for the same in the existing meeting that we thought, could accommodate maximum fifty saints. However, with all adjustments, we could finally accommodate all the saints; hospitality and meeting place. We experienced the Lord’s bountiful grace and everything was taken care.

On the Lord’s Day, we had meeting in a hired banquet of a hotel as the consummation of the training. Though no portion was assigned to me but as the need arose I opened myself to the fellowship of the brothers. On Saturday, according to the brothers' fellowship, I shared the significances of baptism before the baptism of teenagers. And on the Lord’s Day, at the spur of the moment, I was asked to share something. So, based on what I heard from the testimonies of the teenagers, I summarised the sharings into three points.

• Love the Lord Jesus 
• Love the Word of God
• Love the Presence of God; Spend time in Prayer with the Lord every day, develop a personal, intimate, fellowship, and relationahip with the Lord

It was a great blessing to witness our young ones being cared for and trained in the best possible way. I thanked the Lord for all the serving ones who labored so much and shepherded the saints. 

The concluding words shared by a brother was also very apt. Whatever they have learned, received, heard, and seen must now be put to practice.

Lord, bless all our young ones. Preserve them, prepare them, and perfect them to continue to bear Your testimony and await Your return.

Reality of Baptism in Union City

The Christian life is a life of baptism. The reality of baptism is to live in the death of Chirst by being baptised into Christ, not just once, but living in it's reality where the self, the natural man, the old man, the flesh, the world, and everything not of God is put to death. This experience of baptism is possible only in the mingled spirit by being in Christ into whom we have been baptised. Only then, resurrection becomes a reality too, not a future state but a present process that is being experienced day by day. 

Yesterday, I landed in San Francisco for a blending trip in the Bay Area of California prior to attending the live Semiannual Training in Anaheim. In this trip, my first experience was the experience of Christ in His death. Though a few days ago I spoke about baptism and baptised some, I have not yet been baptised myself fully into it's reality thoroughly. The Lord gave this opportunity to experience the reality of baptism.

Though I was baptised about twenty five years ago, I am yet to fully experience the reality of baptism. The Lord has given me many opportunities to experience baptism now and then. Little by little, here a little, there a little, now and then, He has brought me to experience it. He has chosen appropriate time and place to accomplish His work of baptism in me. This surely is the mercy of the Lord.

Last night, I was given hospitality in a brother's house in Union City, California. As I lay down to sleep, the Spirit wrestled with me to deal with my self. I could not sleep properly. Something of my self bothered me. I knew right away that I need to be dealth with. Therefore, I prayed that this "fox's tail" of my self be completely put to death. I had a fresh and thorough consecration to deal with it again. 

The fact that I was given hospitality in Union City reminds me of my need to experience and enjoy the result of baptism, a living in an organic union with the Triune God and also with His Body in oneness, in one accord, and in sweet harmony. I reckon this sleepless night in Union City as the turning point in my life to live in the reality of baptism that I may experience and enjoy the reality of baptism in my Christian life. That my Christian life indeed be a life of baptism.

Later, I spent time to pray for all the prayer burdens the Lord has been burdening me these days. Then, I enjoyed my morning revival on the same matter, living in the reality of baptism. The Lord’s speaking was so timely. It matched my experience and it confirmed my experience too. This is the New Testament ministry. 

We have been buried therefore with Him through baptism into His death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4, RecVer)

Oh what a blessed night in Union City! There I began to experience the reality of baptism in areas of my life that needs thorough baptism and ushered me to the reality of being in union with the Triune God and His Body.

Bible Reading: Forty Eighth Time

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God. Col. 3:16

Today, on my forty-seventh birthday, and as I enter my forty-eighth year of my human life, the Lord graced me to complete my forty-eighth time of reading the Bible and start with my forty-ninth time as I have a goal of reading through the Bible at least a hundred time in my life time, if the  Lord gives me the grace. This is my personal goal, and it gives me immense joy to be able to read and read the word of God. To me, the only book worth reading again and again is the Bible. To me, the only time I feel must be spent at any cost is to read the Bible and spend time in prayer every day, even if it means doing it as a habit. Let it be a habit and be a part of my life. I reckon this is a good habit. God forbid, if I say, reading the Bible and prayer are the only things that must be done every day at all costs, even at the sacrifice of other things.

My prayer has been that the Lord would grace me day by day to be able to read the Bible with good eyesight; with a renewed mind filled with light, sight, vision, and revelation; and a strong spirit to absorb the word as spiritual nourishment. And that, no matter what my circumstances may be, the Lord may grace me with the reading of the Bible and prayer day by day. I cannot think of a life without the word of God and prayer. They have become a part and parcel of my life. I have been married to the word of God and prayer. I can't help but keep reading the Bible and pray. And it has been my joy and enjoyment day by day. I can sacrifice anything else in the world, but not my time with the Lord in prayer and the word of God. 

This also I wish that all my children, family members, saints in the church life, and for that matter, all the children of God should love the word of God and read it to be constituted with it, and be a man of prayer. To the extent that we all be living bibles and talking bibles for other to see and read the Bible. 

Having begun my forty-ninth time of reading the Bible, today morning I spent an hour on the word beginning from Genesis, the first ten chapters, and Matthew, the first three chapters.

May the Lord grace me with the taste and enjoyment of His word that I may read and eat the word of God every day, all the days of my life.

Birthday Gift: Baptisms

On my forty-seventh biological birthday today, the Lord gave me a wonderful experience of "baptism." This baptism is my experience of the cross and dealing with my natural man. The Lord has been gracious to show to me who I am and what He needs to do in me. These days I have been positively busy as I am engaging in productive work for the church, for the office, and for my family. I have been enjoying the joy of being a responsible man in my areas of service, and enjoying being a family man. Oh, what a blessing!

From morning to night, I have been engaged in office work, completing things that need to be completed before I leave for the live semiannual training at the minsitry station in Anahien, California. As the brothers serving the teenagers' training that is going on in the church in Gurugram fellowshipped with me about ministering the word on baptism, I had to prepare myself to release the word of God. Though I had been ministering this truth many times in the past at different places, this time, I wanted to make it more precise and clear to all the young ones. Therefore, I went through the Bible verses and the ministry portion with prayer again. Then, when the time came, I ministered on the seven significances of baptism.

Beginning with the way to be saved as mentioned in Romans 10:9-10 and the need to be baptised in Mark 16:16 to enjoy the complete salvation of God in many aspects, all the teenagers were helped to see these seven significances.

1. Confirmation of Inward Belief, Mark 16:16
2. Fullfillment of God's Righteous Requirement, Matthew 3:15
3. Testimony and Open Declaration, Matthew 3:16
4. Spiritual transfer from the Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God, John 3:5
5. Identification with Christ in His Death, Burial, and Resurrection, Romans 6:3-6
6. Baptism into the Body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:13
7. Appeal to God for a Good Conscience, 1 Peter 3: 21

Along with the ministry of the word, I had the burden to lead those who are not yet baptised to pray for their baptism. Following this, nine young brothers and sisters took water baptism, of which four were brothers and five sisters. Through the brothers' fellowship and arrangement, I was graced further to usher the sisters in their baptism in coordination with another Hindi-speaking brother.

This was a wonderful day, a joyous day for all the teenagers and the saints, especially me! I reckon this as my birthday gift. Yes, a gift of baptism; an experience of baptism in my being and the experience of baptizing the new believers into the Triune God! What a birthday gift!

Hallelujah! Christ is Victor! Jesus is Lord!

Inner Peace

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

I have been shown mercy by the Lord to know Him, experience Him, enjoy Him, and I believe, I am also expressing Him to some extent. Day by day, from one degree of glory to another degree of glory, the Lord is transforming me, as I learn to behold Him.

But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

These days, the Lord's work in me has become more and more subjective. Every other day, for any matter or thing, I have been "bothered" by the Lord inwardly. I could not decide on any matter so easily without first bringing them to the Lord and considering the matter in my personal time with the Lord. The inner peace within me has been a strong indicator of the Lord's will felt in my inner being. I am glad that the Lord is faithful to lead me inwardly, and much more, I am thankful to Him for His grace that I could discern His feeling in my feeling. I have been mercifully "disturbed" in my inner peace when a matter was brought before me that may not be perfectly from the Lord or of the Lord, though the matter be spiritual or perhaps even be in the fellowship of the Body. This inner sense of life has become very sensitive and strong to the extent that I cannot go ahead on any matter unless the inner peace within me is in perfect harmony with me. Thank the Lord for this grace.

For instance, I was given the go-ahead to attend an international training in Malaysia. Every fellowship and every practical matter seemed to be in sweet harmony. In fact, all financial provisions were available too. But as I considered the matter before the Lord again and again, the inner peace within me "disturbed" me positively to reconsider. Instance after instance, it became clearer and clearer that I might have to withdraw from attending this live training, but attend the same training on webcast video training with the brothers in India in India itself. Finally, after a period of three months, it was made clear to me by the inner peace within me that I should skip this time unless the Lord succinctly and vividly revive the matter again.

Likewise, in matters concerning many practical matters in my personal life, family life, office life, and church life, the peace within me has become very sensitive in discerning the leading of the Lord. Outward situations and human reasoning cannot convince me any longer unless the inner peace within is perfectly restful. For it became so obvious that the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.

And the peace of God, which surpasses every man’s understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Blending with Australian Saints

What a blessing that we have been enjoying blending after blending! A week ago, the saints from the church in Singapore came to blend with us here in the church in Gurugram. A week after, a couple from a local church in Australia came to blend with us! In fact, this meeting was so sudden that I had to make an impromptu arrangement for the blending. Through this arrangement, I also learn how to adjust according to the situation and take timely action. 

It was just yesterday morning that I was informed via WhatsApp text message that a couple would like to visit us in Gurugram. Without further delay, I followed up and worked out the practical details. And lo and behold, an elderly, lovely couple, a brother and sister in their early sixties, came to visit us! 

The moment we met, the flow of life began as they shared their experiences of the Lord in visiting India. Though they actually came for their family reunion, most of whom are yet to be saved, they testified about how they have been praying for their family salvation, and how they caught every opportunity to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ even during their family reunion.

On their request, I shared the history of the Lord's move in India, which I shared with the Singapore saints last week. Thank God that I spent a good amount of time preparing the historical facts about the Lord's move in India and in North India. Due to which, I was able to narrate the history in detail, pointing out the facts, year by year, using Google Maps to show them the location of the Lord's move at different times and how the local church were raised up from the South all the way to the North and the North East. Oh, they were so touched by the way the Lord carried out His move in India!

Then, we had a brotherly fellowship over a lovefest lunch nearby our place at a North Indian restaurant where they savored a typical North Indian cuisine. And later, as I drove them to New Delhi to another meeting with the church there, I had a wonderful time of fellowship in the car. Since the brother asked me to share how I got saved and how I came into the church life, the one-hour drive from Gurugram to Delhi was sufficient time to share all the key points of the Lord's work in my life. I testified beginning from my family background, to my experience of regeneration, to following the Lord's leading in studying my Master's degree in Chenani, where I was shepherded into the church life, and how the Lord called me to serve Him full-time. I further testified on how the Lord led me in marriage and service to date. The brother was so thankful to the Lord for the Lord's work in India and in the saints.

Oh, what a blessing to be blended in the Body! Through fellowship and blending, the Lord is building up His Body. Praise the Lord! Halleluiah!

Living a Normal Human Life

Though the church in Gurugram is small in numbers compared to many other Christian groups, we have been very blessed by the Lord in that we have been graced to function actively and participate in many practical building up of the Body of Christ. For this, the Lord has brought saints for fellowship, blending, and perfecting. 

The past few weeks have been positively very "busy" for me. Yes, I mean "busy," not in an outward way of doing things, but in an inward way of fellowship by visiting the saints and spending time with them. Either the saints visited us for fellowship, or we visited the saints for fellowship. Whichever way, we were "busy" fellowshipping...

Since the time I came back after a three-week-long ministry journey, I have still been "busy" with the church life and also in carrying out my responsibility as a father in my family. Day by day, functioning to fulfill all my responsibilities. What a blessing! No time for idleness. Office work, church life, family responsibility, and then also each day, a time with the Lord for prayer and study of the word of God. Every day is a "busy" day. To me, every day is a blessed day. No day ever wasted. What a blessed human life!

Last week, visiting the saints who delivered a baby girl, spending time with the saint for blending in addition to taking care of official work for my children's future education, my life has been fully under training and perfecting, and my time has been fully utilised. Even when I was not going out, some new ones and saints visited for a time of fellowship. Whether I went out or not, still my time has all been occupied. I feel life is very meaningful. Halleluiah!

Even menial works like doing a domestic repair work on my water tank overflow pipe with my son, cleaning office AC filters by myself, finding a spare tyre for my punctured car tyre, repairing our entrance to avoid water overflow during rain, rearranging flower vases for better ambience in our living room, driving my daughter for meeting up with her friends, shopping with my wife for household needs, and the list goes on and on... 

The past few weeks have been fully occupied. In all these, I am living my life to the full. In humanity, carrying out human responsibilities, yet exercising my spirit to take the Lord as my grace and learn Christ in dealing with all practical things. Oh, what a blessed human life! 

I pray that I may be more and more useful to the Lord by being responsible for all my earthly responsibilities. In the process, learning, growing, and being perfected through life experiences, so that one day, the Lord will make me an overcomer! And all the while, experiencing, enjoying, and expressing Christ in the church for the fulfillment of God's eternal plan.

O Lord Jesus! This is the meaning of human life, and this is how I live the church life for the fulfillment of God's eternal plan!

Preparing Vessels Useful to the Lord

God has blessed us with children, of our own blood, three, and many in the church life. On the one hand, we pray for them daily and fellowship with them concerning their future, to follow the Lord's leading. On the other hand, we also make all the necessary preparations in humanity for the Lord's use. At least for the three children the Lord blessed us with thus far, we have been praying for them and with them. My wife and I have also been considering their future education plan. In fact, since last year, the Lord has given me the insight and foresight to send them to Taiwan for their further education. There are a couple of valid reasons for this consideration. 

As far as I could discern, the Lord has arranged everything for my children for His purpose. From their birth in Taipei, Taiwan, to their growing up in Gurugram, India. Their citizens by birth in Taiwan and their overseas citizenship of India by naturalization, as their father is an Indian citizen. This was the Lord's sovereign arrangement. The Lord gave me the burden for their further studies in Taiwan, and upon further inquiry, we discovered that our children can apply as overseas Chinese citizens. At the proper time, we came to know all the details. And step by step, the Lord also narrowed down on which part of Taiwan and which university they should apply to. Things became clearer and clearer and more and more specific. 

One other reason I strongly felt for our children to study their college degrees in Taiwan is for the shepherding in the sisters and brothers' houses near the university campuses. As far as I know, I feel Taiwan is the best country for college students' education in the church life. Especially, in preparing their vessels for the Lord's use. Last year, we even visited a couple of student centers, and I was very impressed. 

There is another practical reason for this consideration in Taiwan, as the government provides each qualifying student with a sufficient stipend, which India has no provision in the colleges here.

For this, our eldest daughter gave her first test for the Chinese language as a part of her qualifying exam. Now, she is preparing for English. And most importantly, her tenth, eleventh, and twelfth marks will play a significant role in her selection to the universities in Taipei, as we have narrowed down to one city for practical reasons of travel and our own parents being in Taipei.

The Lord is the Lord, and He knows how to lead His children in the best way. We fully trust in him and let Him lead. Meanwhile, we prepare ourselves in humanity with all that is needed to be prepared.

May the perfect will of the Lord be done in preparing the vessels for the Lord's use!

Blending with Singapore Saints

God has blended the Body together. Blending is the reality of the Body of Christ.

Since Covid-19, this was the first time the churches abroad came to visit the churches in North India. We were blessed to be visited by the saints from the church in Singapore last week. This visit brought a new blessing for the church in Gurugram. First, our capacity was enlarged as we had to arrange a blending meeting and lovefeast for all the saints. Since we did not have the capacity in our present meeting hall, we had to consider elsewhere. This caused us to look for a proper facility that could meet our needs. Therefore, one whole evening, three of us brothers went to look for guest houses with a banquet hall. After visiting about six guest houses, we finally settled on one that satisfied us and met our needs. In the process, we learned to serve in coordination.

Even as we fellowshipped the content and sequence of the meeting, the Lord blended us together. This itself gave us the opportunity to learn to serve in coordination. There were proposals and adjustments, all worked together for our learning, perfecting, and blending. This experience was also for the entire church, which touched the lives of the children, teenagers, and college students. The teenagers were asked to prepare to share and even rehearse, yet because of time, they could not share what they prepared. Likewise, the college students were asked to prepare, but canceled due to an adjustment in the content of the meeting. We all were blended together, even as we prepared for the blending before the actual blending itself. Hallelujah!

In the blending meeting, we briefed the saints on the history of the Lord’s move in India and Gurugram, and the significance of the church in Gurugram and the need for growth and increase for the Lord’s testimony. Three brothers and a sister shared their testimony of how the Lord gained them for His testimony and for His move in India. From the Singapore saints, we received a fellowship on God-man family living. And more fellowship and blending followed during the lovefeast lunch.

Then, there was another blending session in the meeting of the church in Gurugram with the visitation of the gospel bookroom, where the saints purchased the ministry books and Bibles. From our side too, in addition to the lovefeast lunch, we also gave them some traditional Indian sweets, snacks, and a soap as gifts to each visiting saint. Finally, we accompanied them for shopping at Ambience Mall and saw them off at the Airport. 

Thank the Lord for such a blessed time of blending in the Body. In fact, this was a blessing from the Body! 

We look to the Lord for more such blending again, even as we wait for the Lord’s return.

Special Fellowship

A new sister has started coming to the church meeting, and we also realized that she has not been going well according to the word of God in her marriage-life. Since there is evidence of her living in a relationship outside the God-ordained institution of marriage, we brothers had the burden to shepherd her so that she can be shepherded to come out of the snares of Satan, that she be fully recovered in her Christian life for the church life. The feeling of the brothers was the feeling of the Lord that was expressed last Saturday in our brother's fellowship. The Lord honored the fellowship, and on the same day, the sister turned up for the afternoon prayer meeting. Then I realized the Lord has brought her for a special time of shepherding fellowship.

As soon as we finished the church prayer meeting, I invited her and another couple for a time of special fellowship concerning the new sister. Meanwhile, the Spirit's leading was so clear within me that I was led to fellowship point by point concerning her situation. She also honestly responded to all the points of fellowship, which I appreciated very much. I could sense that she also was desperately longing and seeking fellowship to come out of the bondage of Satan she was trapped in. 

Of course, due to a shortage of life supply through the ministry of the Word, her understanding of marriage-life and the Lord's testimony needed help. Therefore, the Lord gave me the utterances to shepherd her to understand the truth concerning the Christian life, the church life, and the Lord's testimony. Though she might have fallen into the hands of Satan, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Victor who defeated Satan at the cross already! It is through the Lord Jesus Christ that she can also experience deliverance completely. For this, the Lord arranged the saints, the fellow members in the Body, the church, as spiritual companions to rescue her out of darkness into Christ's marvelous light.

After all the word of love in sweet fellowship based on the Bible, she understood what steps she needed to take and the Holy Spirit would come in to help her in her weakness. She was willing to take the step and allow the Lord to work in her life. The Lord truly anointed the fellowship, and we all enjoyed the sweet flow of life! Though some points of fellowship may be hard to take in, nonetheless, it was the word of the Lord, like a surgeon operating on a patient, removing the foreign particle from the body to cure the patient. She was able to take the fellowship. What a mercy! What a grace!

As we prayed for her specifically one by one, we also felt the Lord's life flowing through the prayers in the Body. When it was her turn to pray, she desperately cried out to the Lord. With tears of desperation, repentance, and remorse for her past life, she wept and wept. She also confessed her sins and her weakness in that she could not overcome them by herself. And she prayed for the Lord Jesus to grace her.

The following Lord's day evening, we started a home meeting for her specially. There, we had the pursuit of the word of God, fellowship, and prayer. This is the life supply for her to experience and enjoy the Lord and fully come out of the snares to be a living testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. I also encouraged her to daily enjoy a time of morning revival with another sister, a time of Bible reading daily, and a personal time with the Lord in prayer daily. In this way, she will be fully recovered.

The Lord will recover His children through His supply in the Body, even through this special fellowship. 

Gospel to Gospel Friend

Announcing the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ is what the believers should be doing normally. No matter what the outward situations may be, in season or out of season, the gospel has to be announced. It is by the gospel of Jesus Christ that the will of God can be fulfilled on the earth, and it is for this gospel that the believers have to live their lives. Depending on the atmosphere of the place, the Lord's leading has to be discerned to carry out what He has already commissioned. "Go therefore, and disciple all the nation..."

Due to the ongoing and changing political situation, I have not been able to share the gospel as frequently as I used to in the past. Nevertheless, the Lord in His sovereignty arranged situations now and then for the preaching of the gospel. But the burden the Lord has imparted into me from the day I got saved has always been there.

Last week, I received a call from a brother who introduced me to another new one who was the son of his business partner many years ago. With much burden, he introduced him to me. As I contacted this new one, he responded immediately and positively. Therefore, I went to meet him the same day we were introduced. It was a surprise yet blessed meeting.

As I met him in his office, we had a friendly talk concerning the current affairs, the political and economic situation of  India, and the manpower required for his country, Taiwan, for which he is in the HR profile for the company. Having done all the friendly talk, I released my burden of preaching the gospel to him face to face right away, as I was very clear in my inward being that the Lord sent me to meet him for the sake of the gospel. Furthermore, I learned that his mother is one of the sisters in the church in Kaoshiung in Taiwan. I even had the boldness to tell him that I could meet and preach the gospel to him because God loves him, and remembers his mother's prayer. I believe his mother must have been praying for him for years. I also mentioned to him that all the struggles that he has been going through in his life are because he has no God in his life, yet, to which he also agreed. And as I was about to lead him to prayer to receive the Lord, he was a little nervous, as it was in his office with other employees around. Therefore, I withheld the matter for a while and complied with his suggestion that we could do the prayer in the other room privately. Then, we continued the conversation for a while until I felt it was time for me to leave. Then, we went to the other boardroom. In fact, I was very confident to let him know that God had sent him to India for his business so that he could meet me and hear the gospel, and be saved!

In his company boardroom, he and I alone, with his consent and willingness, I led him to pray the prayer to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as the true and living God, the Savior to be his personal Savior. He willingly prayed and received the Lord Jesus!. This was the first time for him to ever pray to God.  I was so joyful deep within that one soul has heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and prayed to receive the true and living God! All the rest, the Holy Spirit will do His work in him.

Lord, save this brother in answer to his mother's prayer. 

Shepherding at Home

A sweet home meeting was the spontaneous issue when the saints and the shepherd were in sweet fellowship. Last Thursday, I had a wonderful time of fellowship with a new family. Though it was only the husband who was saved, the whole family was open to the gospel. We have been enjoying home meetings at their house for years now. But last week was a special one for some reason.

First, the whole family was able to open up their feelings to me without any reservations. While in the other meetings, due to the presence of some other brothers, they were not fully able to open up some of their personal family matters. But when I was alone with them, as they knew me from the very beginning, they had the freedom to open up their deep concerns. I just let them flow out whatever they wanted to speak. Thereby, I was able to understand their condition.

Second, the Lord has been working on this family, and the Lord also gave me a specific burden for this family. It was a little price that I needed to pay to travel to their home amidst the crowded and dusty roads of old Gurugram, and sanctify my time for the shepherding of this family. The Lord honored the little price we pay and anointed the fellowship with His flow of life.

Third, the blending in the Body through the divine life enables all of us to fellowship and enjoy the home meeting.

Through the minsitry portion we pursued together in Hindi week by week, the Lord spoke His timely words. The Bible verses and the ministry excerpts spoke for themselves. I just repeated what the word of God says and what the minsitry helps in understanding the word of God. 

Then comes the calling upon the Lord's name and prayer. In this way, we all enjoyed the Lord's rich supply of life through the home meeting.

After the meeting, the family insisted that I should eat dinner. Though they had invited me to dine with them a couple of times, I hesitated. But last week, their insistence was very desperate, and I accepted their invitation. They served me with a local delicacy, Mutton curry with Roti.

We have been praying for this family's salvation and that the Lord can gain them fully, the entire family and the neighbors too, that one day, even a new district meeting can be raised up in their home.

May the Lord's will be done in their lives for His testimony in Gurugram, especially among the local people.

Surprise Experiences

On the 31st of May, I was completely taken aback by the experience I had on the same day. In the morning, I had to take my daughter for her language test and then to Cannaught Place for a lovefest meeting of the teenagers in the churches in Delhi and Gurugram as a part of the reward scheme for reading the Bible daily within a specific period as assigned to them. Then, along with my youngest daughter and wife, we had lunch at KFC in the same area, after which we went shopping in Palika Bazar. I had come here once or twice many years ago, but never purchased anything. The only thing I knew about this place was that it was a famous underground shopping complex and full of pickpockets. I actually needed to buy a good leather belt for myself. I had been searching online and could not find one that I felt was proper. Therefore, I took a round in the complex searching for belts.

Shop by shop, I was greeted by shopkeepers the moment they knew I was looking for belts. Just a little showing interest was sufficient for them to take all the liberty to speak about the belt. I had never seen such salesmanship in my entire life where the salesman had to speak so much about just a belt. If they were journalist, an article could have been published on the qualities of the belt they try to sell. Shop by shop, each salesperson spoke almost the same thing with action of trying to prove how genuine the leather was, using a pocket lighter to try to burn the leather. I was not convinced by what they said or what I saw. I was very clear in my mind what I wanted, and very keen in my spirit, whether I should purchase or not.  It was a good opportunity to discern the leading of the Lord deep within against the backdrop of "aggressive advertisements."

When I finally found the one I felt was proper, and another one without a buckle, I asked for the price. To my surprise, I was quoted Rs. 1500 for the nice leather belt I chose to buy and another Rs. 1000 for the leather belt only without the buckle. The price was actually what was printed on the price tag of both belts. I started bargaining with my "market Hindi." I did not know what percentage I had to bargain to. So to find out their latest price, I just walked off. Then, the salesman followed me and reduced the price from 1500 to 1000, then from 1000 to 800, then on and on to 500, and then finally to 200! Shocking! From 1500 to 200? Still, I did not buy.  I knew the actual price now.

Then I went to another shop, and chose a similar belt I had already seen in the previous shop. Interestingly, the same scene was repeated. The salesman kept speaking and speaking and speaking. The same act he showed me to prove it was genuine leather. After spending considerable time, I felt within myself that I should just conclude it. When I asked for the last price, he said the same price as on the price tag, Rs. 1500 for one, and Rs. 1000 for another without a buckle. Since I already knew the last price from the other salesman who tried to sell to me, I simply quoted Rs. 200 for the one without a buckle and Rs. 300 for the one with a buckle. I quoted the price, a total of Rs. 500, and after a few exchanges of words and bargaining, he agreed. And I got the two belts for Rs. 500, which actually was quoted for Rs. 2500. What a surprise bargain! This was a complete surprise to me. Incredible India indeed. 

Later in the evening, two sisters from Korea and a local sister with her son visited me. They came very late, and when they did show up, one sister could not communicate in English at all. And another sister was completely in her own "feminist mindset." While treating dinner, I had to speak a word about the role, function, and position of a sister in the Bible. I was completely shocked by her attitude of not even accepting the Bible, where the sisters' function and position in relation to the brothers were laid down. One of the sisters even dare to quote from an extra-biblical text concerning Magdalene, which I sternly rejected as not from the word of the Bible.

These two incidents in one day were truly surprising experiences for me. Nevertheless, I learn something new...