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