Bible Study at CMC Vellore

Last week, a brother called me to inform me that he had arranged a Bible study session with the medical student of CMC Vellore at the Campus Chapel. He has been working as a medical doctor in the hospital wing of the college and has easy access to the students. I reckoned this as the Lord’s arrangement and consent to his proposal. In fact, this was the second time such a meeting was arranged for me to share the word with the students. He also made an invitation card with the title "Living Word."  Even the burden he had for the students, I picked up the same. This was the Lord’s arrangement, and I simply followed what my brother had arranged.

On the 24th of November, Monday night, after a whole day of meeting with some other brothers and sisters, this medical doctor brother, along with his wife and a full-time serving brother, we went to CMC Vellore Chapel for the Bible study. 

As we began the meeting with the MBBS students, I first offered an opening prayer for the Lord to flow forth the living words. As I requested the students to choose a song, one of them chose a song on praying to the Lord to "open the eyes of our hearts." Immediately, I picked this phrase and started the Bible study with Bible verses on Ephesians 1:17, 18. 

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him, The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:17-18, RecVer)

The Bible is God-breathed, the words that came out of the Lord’s mouth, which are spirit and are life. The Bible is THE BOOK and is different from any other book. Only this Book is the word of God that gives life, the Solution to every problem in the universe, and the Answer to every question. This is the only Book that is worth reading over again and again as many times as possible, and every time it gives new light. This is not merely a religious book, not even a sacred book only but the Book that is God-breathed and gives spirit and life to the believers.

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16, RecVer)

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (John 6:63, RecVer)

Then, I led the students to read verse by verse John 6:31-51, 57, and picked the key phrases on Jesus being the Bread.

1. The True Bread 
2. The Bread of God
3. The Bread of Life
4. The Bread out of Heaven
5. The Living Bread

The Lord Jesus Christ is the true Bread; all the other breads are just the physical type that can meet only temporary need. Only this true Bread gives the eternal life to the one who eats Him as the Bread. He is the Bread of God, and He is God Himself. Eating Him is to "eat God" because He is the Bread of God in the sense of receiving the divine life supply from God, as He is also the Bread of Life. All other breads will one day lead to death, no matter how many times they are eaten, but this Bread of Life leads only to eternal life. This Bread is from Heaven as it is from God and of God, full of life, and is therefore the living Bread.  

So, the best thing to do with the Bread is to eat Him. Many people have read the Bible mentally, but how many have eaten the Bible? Without receiving the Bread as mentioned in John 6, the real significance of the Bread will not be realised. The Bread must be eaten!

What is Bread for? It is for eating. Eating is the process of transforming the objective food to become a subjective, nutritious life supply for the one who eats. Therefore, the Bread must be eaten, not just read or studied. 

Eat the Bread

As the living Father has sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me. (John 6:57, RecVer)

The Lord Jesus plainly states the need for eating Him as the Bread so that one can live because of Him who is the Bread.

How to Eat

Man is of three parts: spirit, soul, and body (1 Thes. 1:23). To eat the Lord Jesus as the Bread, the Body must be exercised to pick up the Bible, open it, and read with the eyes. Then, use the soul, the mind, to understand what was read. And finally, use the spirit to digest by praying and receiving the word read, the Bread, as life.

In this way, the MBBS students were helped to know the importance of the Bible being God-breathed, spirit and life, and that they should read the Bible every day to eat the Bread to grow in their spiritual life unto maturity.

May the Lord bless all the students and grace them to eat Him as the living Bread every day unto full maturity. 

Fellowships in Vellore

The visit to this city was not a part of my plan. However, as I planned to travel to Anantapur for the distribution, a brother inquired if I could pass through Vellore for a visit. Later, after further fellowship with the brothers, making the plan for the distribution, my visit to Vellore was confirmed as my last stop this time was planned in Palameneru, which was not far from Vellore.

Last Lord’s Day, after the combined meeting in Palameneru, I came along with a brother's family to Vellore. I spent some time in the bookroom, and then we travelled together to a remote village to fellowship with a family who had recently been recovered into the church life. The Lord led me to share about having a "hidden life" of prayer with the Lord daily. 

It is common for many saints to pray corporately and enjoy the church life corporately. However, there is a great lack in spending a private, intimate, spiritual relationship and fellowship with the Lord. I shared my own testimony of how the Lord led me in almost every practical matter of my life during my personal time spent with Him. And I testified how the Lord answered my prayers for my family's salvation, serving the Lord full-time, family life, and many important decisions taken after solid hours of personal time with the Lord in prayer. The brothers were so touched by the fellowship that they all testified one by one how much they lagged behind in their personal prayer life. They also confessed that due to this lack, they have drifted away from the Lord in their daily living. Though I did not know about their spiritual condition, the Lord spoke the timely word to each one of them. Praise the Lord!

The following day, we visited two brothers who were saved due to their critical health condition while being treated at CMC Vellore. I listened to their testimony of salvation, which was mostly due to their hopelessness after difficult times of serious medical issues. One was from West Bengal, a Bangla-speaking brother, and the other from Bihar, a Hindi-speaking brother. I felt the Lord was introducing me to them, or vice versa, for the future purpose of the Lord’s move in North India. I patiently listened to their testimonies and interjected now and then to clarify what I understood of their sharing in Hindi. They both were so excited to fellowship with me, and I responded to their fellowship with amens. After two hours of listening to their testimonies, as we needed to go to another fellowship, I prayed on their request and left.

About an hour and a half drive from Vellore, we visited a new family who are gradually turning towards church life. To them, after the lovefeast lunch, the Lord led me to share on doing the will of the Father using the Lord Jesus as a pattern in Matthew 26. God has His one unique will, and all that we are and do must be in line and within His will. Oftentimes, there is a clash of opinions in the mind, but we must pray to do only the will of the Father as the Lord prayed, no matter what the price.

And taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee aside, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch with Me. And going forward a little, He fell on His face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will. And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, So were you not able to watch with Me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again, going away a second time, He prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done. (Matthew 26:37-42, RecVer)

The Lord Jesus was deeply distressed and exceedingly sorrowful concerning His crucifixion at the cross and prayed to the Father if it was possible to bypass it, but He submitted to the Father's will by saying, "Let Your will be done." What a wonderful pattern of the God-man Jesus Christ!

In the same way, we all have to submit our lives and all matters to the Father that His perfect will be done in every matter so that in all the wills that we carry out, His will be done. This fellowship was for all the family members, as they all were facing dilemmas in their lives. They were greatly helped by the fellowship, as that was what they actually needed at the moment. May the Lord’s perfect will be done in their lives.

Then, we visited a brother and his wife who were pastoring a congregation. To them, the Lord led me to fellowship on the oneness of the Body of Christ, the one new man, and the church in her local aspect. I also introduced the New Testament Recovery Version to them using the footnotes in Matthew 1 on the son of David, the five women, and the wife of Uriah. They both were so supplied through the fellowship and wanted more fellowship. However, we need to take leave as we have two more meetings lined up in the evening.

Finally, in the evening after the Bible study time with some medical students in CMC Vellore, we had a dinner lovefeast fellowship with a brother's family who has been going through situations. To them, the fellowship was on trusting the Lord to live by faith and to seek the presence of the Lord in everything by sharing my testimony of how the Lord supplied all my needs and led me with His presence from the time I came to serve the Lord full-time.

After all these enjoyable fellowships, all the meetings that were arranged for me were all taken care of. In each meeting, the Lord gave the timely word, and all who attended the meeting and fellowship were richly supplied. Hallelujah! Out from the throne of God and the Lamb flows the rivers of living water!

And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street. (Revelation of John 22:1, RecVer)

Lord, continue to bless Your testimony in Vellore.

Ministry of the Word in Palamenaru

 This was the third time I visited this locality. In the previous two visits, I came here for the ministry of the word literature distribution. But this time, due to the brothers' request, I came just to visit after the distribution trip as a "passing through" on my way back home. 

The brothers fellowshipped and made an arrangement for a combined Lord’s Table Meeting of three localities nearby: the churches in Palameneru, Tirupati, and Vellore. Though I was informed of the meeting, no one specifically informed me that I should minister the word. In fact, all the brothers assumed that I knew that I should minister the word. So, I was just prepared simply to enjoy the blending meeting of the saints and prophesy my portion for three minutes. However, in case the brothers requested me to minister the word, I would simply follow the brother who gave the opening word. So, I kept myself open to the Lord for whatever He wanted me to minister, if He wills so.

The saints have all arrived for the combined meeting, and the bread-breaking meeting was done. Then, I was informed by the brothers that I should minister the word for an hour with translation into Telugu and Tamil. But before I stood up to minister, there were a few minutes' gaps when the serving ones were adjusting the translation arrangement. I used that time to quickly consider what would be the need of the saints. The Lord then led me to call hymn 812 on coming to the Lord to eat and to drink Him on the word and in prayer. The message was made clear to me to minister on eating and drinking the Lord in prayer and in the word.

For an hour, I released my burden on the need to come to the word of God daily and also the need for a prayer life with personal testimonies of reading the Bible in a scheduled way with a goal, and a prayer life- personal, family, and the church prayer. My burden was fully released. Later, the saints testified that this was the need of the time for all the saints, as many saints have not been practising the basics of the daily Christian life of coming to the Lord in the word and in prayer.

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, That the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, RecVer)

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (John 6:63, RecVer)

And the word of God grew, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly; and a large number of the priests obeyed the faith. (Acts 6:7, RecVer)

And when they had so besought, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31, RecVer)

After the meeting, we had a time of lovefeast and blending, and then left along with the saints in Vellore for my visit to Vellore. 

Lord, continue to bless the churches in Palameneru, Tirupati, and Vellore.

Ministry of the Word to Uravakonda, Konepalli, and Pamidi

Uravakonda

On our way to Anantapur, we detoured to Uravakonda to meet a group of village Pastors in a remote area. For some reason, I did not feel like getting involved in the speaking, as most of them did not understand English. Therefore, I left the matter to the local brothers. Meanwhile, I went to take a prayer walk in the nearby empty land. 

Towards the end of our brothers' introduction of the ministry literature, one Pastor with an evil intention purposefully attacked the Telugu translation without any solid basis. The question he asked was not even a point of truth, but an article referring to a child Jesus. He was not even willing to listen to what our brothers had to say. In anger, he muttered something in Telugu and left. This was the only negative experience in the entire trip this time. It was a lesson for us not just to speak the truth but also to pray and exercise the spirit while speaking. The local brothers learned their lesson not to take the ministry lightly. Nevertheless, there were genuine seeking brothers who enquired more on the ministry books and purchased them.

Konepalli

In this minsitry journey to Anantapur, one of our coordinating brothers hail from a village, Konepalli. Since his family members are yet to be saved, I felt very good to visit them. So we did. The family had prepared a local delicacy for our dinner. As we fellowshipped, I prophesied in my spirit that the brothers' whole family would be saved, and the very place where we ate our dinner would be the very place the Lord’s Table Meeting bread should be broken when the church is raised up in the near future. I had a strong burden for the salvation of the entire family and the villagers; therefore, I preached a one-sentence gospel to the parents, "Believe into the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." Then, I prayed for their salvation. I do believe the Lord will save the entire household of my brother, along with the villagers, and raise up the church in Konepalli.

Pamidi

We, then, headed for a meeting with the young working Christians in Pamidi. When we arrived, I was requested to minister the word as it was also the weekly Christian meeting. I ministered on "worshipping God in spirit all the time" with the main emphasis on being in our spirit to worship God in spirit all the time, not merely at a specific time of a day or on a specific day of a week, using John 4:9-24.

Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. (John 4:21, RecVer)

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness. (John 4:24, RecVer)

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. (2 Timothy 4:22, RecVer)

The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. (Romans 8:16, RecVer)

After the ministry of the word on worshipping God in spirit all the time, the local brothers introduced the ministry books and the New Testament Recovery Version in Telugu. Almost everyone present in the meeting purchased the Recovery Version. Then, in the night, we left for Anantapur.

May the Lord who spoke the word and led us to all these localities cause His words, as the seed of the word of God, to grow unto the raising up of His testimony.

Ministry of the Word to Anantapur

We had been visiting different parts of Ananatapur district for the past few days, and we had finally come to the main city of Ananatapur. We arrived very late in the night and were given hospitality in the home of a brother who is also an officer in the agriculture department. 

The next morning after breakfast, we had a time of fellowship with our host's family. As they requested me to share something, I shared on the need for all Christians to be constituted with the word of God. For some reason, the Lord’s leading in all the fellowships and meetings in this trip was on the word of God and prayer. As I shared these two burdens, the family members were very encouraged. They even indicated that they would renew their Christian living with daily Bible reading and prayers. 

We were then led to meet an independent Pastor who was also very impressed by the introduction of the Recovery Version and immediately purchased it for himself and promised to read it and then introduce it to his congregation. 

Then, we met one key Pastor in the city who is also a well-known Bible teacher. At first, I gave the time to the local Telugu-speaking brothers to introduce the Recovery Version in Telugu. Though he appreciated it, he also tried to compare it with all the other Bibles in his possession. He also brought out a Telugu study Bible, which he compiled. Then, I was asked to minister something.

I began by quoting 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Timothy 3:16,17 on the need for the Christians to come to the full knowledge of the truth. Then, I ministered on the need to daily pursue the word of God, which can make the Christians grow in life, and how the truth can teach a person, convict him, correct him, and instruct him in righteousness so that the man of God may be complete and perfect in every good work. The Lord then touched this Pastor, who is a Bible teacher, so much so that he requested me to come and introduce the Recovery Version Bible in his upcoming Silver Jubilee celebration of the ministry he has been involved in, where about two hundred Pastors are expected to attend. However, I did not have any leading to confirm to him. He bought the New Testament Recovery Version. 

We then visited the sister of one of our brothers and preached the gospel and led them to pray to receive the Lord. After which, a meeting was arranged in another Christian group where I ministered on loving God with the love of God as God is love.

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)

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God, and everyone who loves has been begotten of God and knows God. He who does not love has not known God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8, RecVer)

And we know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16, RecVer)

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40, RecVer)

And Jehovah your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, so that you will love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (Deuteronomy 30:6, RecVer)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35, RecVer)

The next day, we had an early morning meeting with the top leader, the Superintendent of a big Christian group. By his own confession, he has been an ardent lover of the ministry of the word and has been listening to and studying the Life-study messages. Despite all that he confessed, there was a lack of reality and depth in whatever he confessed. May the Lord speak to him in a stronger and deeper way so that he may be fully recovered to practice the ministry he professed to appreciate.

Then, we met another Pastor who was so much touched by the Recovery Version Bible we introduced and the words we fellowshipped with him, especially on the matter of righteousness. Then, a meeting with another politician turned Pastor, and finally, a group of students.

By the way, the Lord has been drawing a young brother to fellowship with us. He was one of the Pastors we met in our last distribution journey. He showed interest in the truth and also in fellowship with us. He even shared his personal testimony with me and indirectly hinted at his need for himself, his family, and the congregation he is shepherding. May the Lord gain him fully for His testimony one day.

After all these meetings for two days in Anantapur city, our distribution journey this time had come to an end. Brothers from other localities went back, and some of us proceeded to attend the combined Lord’s Table Meeting in Palameneru.

Praise the Lord for the city of Ananatapur. May the Lord, in His time, establish the golden lampstand in Ananatapur. 

Ministry of the Word to Guntakal

In Guntakal, we were first introduced to one of the key Christian leaders in the city. The Father-Son duo who led the group were well-versed in English. So, I took the lead to introduce the Recovery Version and the ministry books. 

As I used the verse in Ephesians 1:5 to show the accuracy of translation using "sonship verses adoption," the key senior Pastor confirmed my speaking with a resounding excitement and joy. He testified that he just preached on "becoming God," the last Lord’s Day, to the believers in his congregation. However, he was not too sure, as his English version says "adoption". However, when I pointed out the Greek word used for sonship and proved the divine thought with John 1:12, 13; 3:3,5, he was all the more excited. I also clarified that "becoming God" is only in life and nature but not in the Godhead, he exclaimed in joy that his vague understanding of the truth had been made crystal clear. He was so happy when I confirmed his vague understanding of what I just spoke to him about sonship. Then, we had a wonderful time of fellowship as Christian brothers. Later, they provided a wonderful lovefeast.

Next, we had a time of fellowship with another Pastor and his son on the Recovery Version of the Holy Bible. Though they initially were skeptical about the translation we presented, when I explained the matter of accuracy in translation and the revelations concealed in the footnotes, they became very interested in the truth and also very submissive from their initial attitude of skepticism. Later, I also shared my testimony on how God called me to serve Him and how He has been faithfully leading and blessing me; they were very impressed. We were given hospitality in his guest rooms.

The next morning, the Pastor and his wife gave a wonderful local delicacy for breakfast, and we enjoyed a time of fellowship wherein they also requested me to pray for them.

In the night, a meeting was arranged for working people where I shared the need for coming to the full knowledge of the truth by being constituted with the word of God by daily reading, studying, and receiving the word of God.

In this way, the Lord blessed the ministry distribution in Guntakal. May He raise up His testimony through His chosen people at the proper time.

Ministry of the Word to Gooty

In Gooty, we were first introduced to a working brother where I briefly introduced the minsitry. Then, we were taken to another brother's home where I was asked to minsitry something to the key senior brothers who took the lead to introduce the ministry to other fellow Christian leaders. Because of the insistence of the brothers, I used Hebrews 9:4 to explain the spiritual significances of the placement of the golden incense altar, apparently mistaken in Hebrews 9 to be in the Holy of Holies, while in Exodus it was in the Holy Place. After this exposition using the footnotes in the Recovery Version, the brothers were so impressed with the revelation concerning the experiences of the golden incense altar, which described our spiritual experiences in prayer. This explanation impressed two leading brothers deeply. They became more keen to know the truth, and their hearts became so open to the extent that they opened up their homes for hospitality.

Besides, there was a group of students who were so impressed when I shared my testimony of salvation and ministered the truth on the assurance, security, and joy of salvation. These were young people, and our visit to them was a surprise visit. Though the meeting was intended for introducing the ministry literature, the moment I saw a good number of young brothers, mostly new believers, I had the burden to share my testimony to encourage them, which turned out to be what they actually needed at the moment. The leading brother, who was a little cautious before he heard us minister the word, became very open after he heard our introduction of the ministry literature with our life experiences. He even became the key person to invite us for the next day's meeting with a larger number of students and working brothers and sisters. Though I myself could not join the next day due to another meeting I had to attend in another city, the Lord further opened the door for His move in the city.

While we were treated with warm Telugu hospitality in a senior brother's house, I was requested to share "something." Immediately, I took that opportunity and ministered on the oneness that the Lord had prayed for in John 17.

And all that is Mine is Yours, and Yours Mine; and I have been glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world; yet they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given to Me, that they may be one even as We are. (John 17:10-11, RecVer)

That they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that You have sent Me. And the glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, even as We are one; I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. (John 17:21-23, RecVer)

The Lord’s anointing was so rich that as I ministered the word, the word flowed forth like rivers of living waters. 

We are one because we are of and from the same one God, possessing His life and His nature, the same as Himself, our Father. This oneness is God’s desire for His children, and this is exactly what the Lord Jesus prayed for, the greatest prayer ever recorded in the Bible.

In fact, the Lord Jesus created this one new man at the cross for the oneness of the redeemed believers. He had crucified in His flesh the cause of division among His children. Now, as children of God, we have to put on the new man by dealing with everything that is not Christ. For in this one new man, Christ is all and in all. Only Christ matters in the one new man. Anything apart from or in addition to Christ will only bring forth division. All the divisions of denominations are due to the fact that, in spite of being in Christ, there is something more than Christ. Christ plus different reachings and practices; cultures, traditions, teachings, etc. In the one new man, Christ should be the one and only one, the Head as well as the Body. But Christ plus caused the divisions. 

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)

And have put on the new man, which is being renewed unto full knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, Where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3:10-11, RecVer)

The brothers and sisters got new light and revelation through the fellowship on the word of God. In addition to this, another brother showed so much interest in the truth that he even enquired about joining the training and to be in fellowship. 

In the city of Gooty, we could sense the Lord’s definite works among the seeking believers, evident by the fact that they all appreciated the ministry so much. It was as though they heard the truth spoken to them for the first time. I believe it was so, as the truth on oneness has not been ministered thoroughly or not at all among God's children today. Therefore, the Lord sent us to those new cities for His testimony. 

This city, Gooty, has much hope. Many have received the ministry of the word dearly, even with paying the price, as we also had a considerable number of the New Testament Recovery Version in Telugu and the ministry books sold.

May the ministry of the words sown as seed into the hearts of the believers bear forth fruits unto the establishment of His testimony in Gooty soon.

Ministry of the Word to Kadiri

A week ago, I set out for the minsitry of the Word Literature journey again, this time in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, as this district is yet to have the Lord’s testimony established. Though the distribution was to begin on Monday, 17th November, but on the Lord’s Day, the brothers took me to Pulivendula with the hope that I could join the Lord’s Table meeting there. However, on the 16th Nov, Lord’s Day morning, we received an impromptu call and a surprise invitation from the Brethren Assembly in Kadiri. Therefore, we rushed to attend the meeting in Kadiri. 

In Kadiri, we introduced the New Testament Recovery Version in Telugu and English along with the minsitry books, and some brothers purchased them. Though we intend to go back after the meeting, we were invited to meet another brother in a nearby village who prepared a lovefeast for us and to whom we also introduced the ministry books. And this led to another brother and on to another Pentecostal Pastor. Ultimately, we ended up spending the whole day in Kadiri and went back to our lodging place in Pulivendula only in the night. The next day too, we spent the whole day in Kadiri and introduced the minsitry books to different Pastors.

This time, the arrangement was a one-on-one meeting with the Pastors. In most cases, I requested the local Telugu-speaking brothers to introduce the minsitry directly in Telugu. This helped the local brothers to function. I would do the speaking only when there was a need to do so in English and if it was required to minister the deeper truth to some key Christian leaders. 

May the Lord raise up His testimony in Kadiri among the brothers whom He has led us to sow the minsitry of the word.

Life Lesson: Experiences for the Building

Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted of evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own lusts; Then the lust, having conceived, gives birth to sin; and the sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. (James 1:13-16, RecVer)

Spiritual things are not so simple. The enemy does his works to complicate the sinners' situation. However, God became a man in Jesus Christ to save man from his sins and from the complicated situations. On the one hand, God predestinated us, yet on the other hand, God gave man a free will. How do we reconcile God’s predestination and man's free will? When a brother sins, we need to have mercy, if need be, snatched them out of fire. In some cases, we have to show mercy in fear, hating even the inner garment spotted from the flesh.

Keep yourselves in the love of God, awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have mercy, on those who are wavering; Save them by snatching them out of the fire. On others have mercy in fear, hating even the inner garment spotted from the flesh. (Jude 21-23, RecVer)

In fact, there are sins that are gross and there are sins that are unto death. However, sin is sin. But where do we draw the line? There are many things beyond our understanding. In such cases, we leave the matter to the Lord who is the Judge. We leave the matter to the Lord and not try to do anything about the sinful situation except pray for such ones. What can we do except prayer? So, do what you can do best in such situation, pray.

Failures among God’s chidren have been used greatly by God to expose the real condition of a person. Jacob's twenty years' experiences in his uncle Laban's house was an exposure of his natural man. Since then, it was God’s dealing with his naturalness, failures after failures, stripping him of all his natural strength so that God can gradually work in him, transform him, and mature him, to make him a man of blessing.

God, in His sovereignty, caused all things that transpired in Jacob's life to perfect him, especially through his failures. All that he schemed for himself to meet his selfishness in Laban's house, in preparing to meet his brother Esau with the intense fear he had within, the dealings caused by the loss of his loved ones in experience - Rachel, Deborah, Isaac, Joseph, Benjamin, all were stripped off from him. Ultimately, the result of all his failures opened the way for God to work in him and lead him to maturity. His maturity was evident in his spirit being revived and his heart growing numb which is a proof of his soul and spirit being divided, a true sign of maturity. 

And they told him, saying, Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt. And his heart grew numb, for he did not believe them. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them; and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. (Genesis 45:26-27, RecVer)

After this experience of maturity, he simply started blessing people. His supplanting hands became blessing hands. He blessed Pharaoh and all his chidren.

And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went forth from Pharaoh’s presence. (Genesis 47:10, RecVer)

Failures are the path one has to pass through to be exposed, dealt with, be transformed, and finally be matured to become a blessed man and a man of blessing, a channel to bless those who needs to be blessed. 

In all these ways, in our experiences, we gain Chirst, and knowing Him in a subjective way the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. These are the experiences of the Triune God and becoming mature in the divine life for the building up of the Body of Christ. 

But what things were gains to me, these I have counted as loss on account of Christ. But moreover I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8, RecVer)

Truth Lesson: God's Blessing of Inheritance

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ, (Ephesians 1:3, RecVer)

In whom also we were designated as an inheritance, having been predestinated according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of His will. (Ephesians 1:11, RecVer)

Who is the pledge of our inheritance unto the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:14, RecVer)

God as our inheritance and we as God’s inheritance is the blessing and this blessing is to the church. This is the heavenly and spiritual blessing in Ephesians 1:3. This blessing is the blessing of the Father in His selection and predestination, choosing us to be His inheritance, His sons, which is His eternal purpose. This blessing is the blessing of the Son in accomplishing God’s eternal purpose through redemption through which also He shed His own blood to purchase us, fulfilling His plan of His inheritance. This blessing is also of the Spirit applying God the Father’s eternal purpose through Christ the Son's accomplishment of redemption. This is the spiritual blessing of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. This is the blessing to the Church with God as the inheritance and the saints as God’s inheritance. 

God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world and predestinated us to be His sons. God the Father has predestinated us to be His sons, to be His inheritance; as the Son inherits the Father’s. 

In Christ, we were designated as a chosen inheritance. We were designated as an inheritance to inherit God as our inheritance. Yes, we have become God’s inheritance for His enjoyment. And we also inherit God as our inheritance for our enjoyment. What a mutual inheritance! What a mutual enjoyment! 

The Holy Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance. The Holy Spirit is a foretaste of what we will inherit in full. The Holy Spirit is a guarantee of our inheritance. God the Father has bought us with the price of His own blood that we become His possession, His inheritance. Since then, He has been dispensing Himself into us to the extend that we fully participate in Him in all that He is and has accomplished. When our body is redeemed, we will fully enjoy Him as our inheritance. What a divine trading! He bought us with a high price to make us His inheritance. We paid nothing yet inherit Him as our possession. He bought us and we gained Him. What a blessing!

This is the enjoyment of the God of Isaac. Isaac apparently did nothing yet inherited His father's riches. He fought no war yet gained a wealthy inheritance. Whatever he did, Jehovah blessed him and he gained a hundredfold. In fact, he became rich and continued to grow richer until he became very rich.

And Isaac sowed in that land and gained in the same year a hundredfold. And Jehovah blessed him, And the man became rich and continued to grow richer until he became very rich. And he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. (Genesis 26:12-14, RecVer)

Genesis 26 records how Isaac dug wells and got water wherever he dug. This is one example of God’s blessing upon Isaac.

That said, Isaac was blessed, so are we. Though we have the Almighty God as our inheritance, we often fail to enjoy our real possession, God. The reason could be, we are yet to see what the Father has given us. Or, our natural man wants to do everything by ourselves assuming that we will earn a possession through our labor. Either one of these could become a great hindrance to the enjoyment of our eternal inheritance. This is synonymous to a ruler, a man who was exceedingly rich, asking the Lord what he must do to inherit the kingdom of God as though he could labor and earn the eternal life.

And a certain ruler questioned Him, saying, Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 18:18, RecVer)

But when he heard these things, he became very sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich. (Luke 18:23, RecVer)

Now, having seen and known that we inherited God as our possession, we must also exercise to enjoy God as our inheritance. For this, our eyes need to be enlightened. 

The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:18, RecVer)

Now, having realised that God is our inheritance, we will appreciate Christ who is the embodiment of God in the Scriptures. For the Scriptures reveal Christ and His riches for our enjoyment. However, for us to enjoy the riches of Christ, enjoying the God of Isaac, we must first experience the God of Jacob. For, there are many hindrances in our being that deprives us of our enjoyment of the riches of Christ. So, the transforming Spirit as the God of Jacob is needed to deal with every hindrance and give us a free pass to the rich inheritance we have in God. The cross has to break every barrier and clear the blockages in our being so that we enjoy the God of Isaac. Therefore, to enjoy the God of Isaac, we need the God of Jacob in our experience.

May we not miss to enjoy the rich inheritance we have in God. May the God of Isaac be our God in reality. In this way, we enjoy the blessing of God the Father, Gideon th3 Son, and God the Spirit. This blessing is to the church and for the church. 

Life Lesson: The Ministry of the Word

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak from Myself, but the Father who abides in Me does His works. (John 14:10, RecVer)

For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for He gives the Spirit not by measure. (John 3:34, RecVer)

Whom we announce, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man full-grown in Christ; For which also I labor, struggling according to His operation which operates in me in power. (Colossians 1:28-29, RecVer)

The Lord Jesus Christ did the Father’s work by speaking the Father’s word. This is the ministry of the word. As the Son, He spoke the words of the Father. The Father does His work as the Son spoke the word. This is the pattern of the Lord Jesus Christ is doing the ministry of the Father, which is the ministry of the word. The Lord spoke the word, and the Father did the work. What a coordination! What a mingling of God the Father and God the Son in the minsitry! What a ministry! 

The Son's ministry was to speak the Father’s word. As a result, the Father gives the Spirit without measure. The Son spoke the Father’s word which resulted in the Father’s giving the Spirit Who carries out the Father’s work. This is the ministry of the word as seen in the life of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul followed the Lord Jesus's pattern of serving the Father by ministering the word. He announced, he admonished, and he taught and thereby, presented every man full grown in Christ. This is the ministry of the word as seen in the life of the apostle Paul.

In the church history too, sister M E Barbar taught the way to work for the Lord is by learning not to work for the Lord. Meaning that, we should learn not work in an outward way by doing outward deeds. But we should rather be pursuing the word of God, be constituted with it, and minister the word. It is God who does His work, and He does it so by our ministering the timely word at the proper time.

Devoid of this lesson of the proper ministry of the word, we may run the risk of doing the "ministry" in a human organisational way. This will result in man's work. This will be a serious offense to God. May the Lord save us from doing our own works and not the Father’s work.

Jehovah is my Shepherd; I will lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; / He leads me beside waters of rest. (Psalms 23:1-2, RecVer)

The Lord as our Shepherd makes us lie down. He wants us to rest in Him, trust in Him, and let Him do His work.

For thus says the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest you will be saved; In quietness and in trust will be your strength; But you were not willing, (Isaiah 30:15, RecVer)

We must learn to return to the Lord and rest, we must learn to be quiet before the Lord, and simply trust in the Lord. This will be our strength. But the question is, "Are we willing?"

By the way, we are not qualified in any way to work for the Lord. It would be utter foolishness to even assume to think we can do something for the Lord, much less work for the Lord. 

The Lord’s work is the Lord’s work, not mine. If I were to do the Lord’s work, I must give up myself and fully consecrate myself absolutely to the Lord. Only in this way, I can be one with the Lord and do the Father’s work by just speaking His word when He wants me to speak. Then, the Father will do His work. This is the way to work for the Lord. This is the ministry of the word.

Lord, preserve me to be one with You in Your ministry; resting in You, trusting in You, and speaking Your word in the ministry of the word. 

Life Lesson: Live Life

The divine life has the divine power which produce fruits issuing in growth in life and multiplication in numbers. Where genuine life is, there genuine growth is. It is no possible to claim to have life without growth and increase. Life has power, life grows, and life multiplies. 

If in our Christian life and church life, we are really enjoying life, there should be the genuine growth and increase in numbers. It would be foolishness to claim to have life yet without growth and increase in numbers. This has been a reality check for me personally in my Christian life and also corporately in my church life.

With the present situation of my Christian life and church life, there is much room for improvement in the pursuit of life. For the genuine enjoyment of life will issue in growth in life qualitatively and increase in numbers quantitatively. What a reality check! A tree is known by its fruit. 

I have been so much exposed to see where I am, what my real situation is, and what steps to take. My urgent need is to come before the Lord; I need to deal with anything that hinders my growth in life. When life grows, there will be increase in numbers. 

The gospel of John 14 is on our oneness with the Lord, a subjective experience of the Triune God. This is followed by John 15 where we abide in the Vine and multiply in numbers. The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 is different from fruit bearing in John 15. We have no excuse in not bearing fruits. In life, there is growth, and there is bound to be multiplication. 

Having learned the lack of life, we must pursue the growth in life. To be a man of life is also to be on th central lane of God’s economy. For God’s purpose can be fulfilled only in life. Life grows, bears fruit, and then fulfill God's economy. This life is Christ Himself. And our Christian life for the church life is Christ Himself.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4, RecVer)

Jesus said to him, I am the way and the reality and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6, RecVer)

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

Life Lesson: Sobermindedness

For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of sobermindedness. (2 Timothy 1:7, RecVer)

But you, be sober in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelist, fully accomplish your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5, RecVer)

In our serving God and the church, we must be soberminded. The Spirit of God today is the spirit of sobermindedness. It would be foolishness to assume that we have learned and know how to serve God or the church. We must be soberminded and be open to learn from to the brothers who are more experienced. It is not a matter of "blindly following," but being soberminded and learning from the brothers who have more experiences. It is a blessing to learn from such experienced brothers. If we do so, we are soberminded. 

The transformation of the soul will eventually result in our mind being renewed day by day and being sober-minded. It is very possible from some to think they have learned yet have not yet learned what ought to be learned. If such minds are not renewed, there will be looseness and there will not be the genuine building up of the church where they serve. In fact, this has been the case with many brothers, no sobermindedness, and it resulted in the lack of building up of the Body where they serve.

Having realised our lack of learning and training, we must humble ourselves and learn from the learned brothers who are more experienced. This is to be sober-minded. 

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so as to be sober-minded, as God has apportioned to each a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3, RecVer)

If brothers are soberminded, they will be a man of prayer. A genuine soberminded person will also be a man of prayer. For a soberminded brother will realise under the Lord’s shining light his lack of learning and be humble. This will lead him to go before the Lord, confessing his shortages, and look to the Lord in prayer for the Lord’s perfecting work in him.

But the end of all things has drawn near. Therefore be sober-minded and be sober unto prayers. (1 Peter 4:7, RecVer)

Being soberminded also will make one aware of the enemy's strategy in trying his best to devour the saints. This will keep him watchful, be on the alert always, and be exercised in his spirit with his sobermind in his living and conduct.

Be sober; watch. Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, RecVer)

May the Lord grace me to learn and be perfected so as to soberminded in my thinking so as to live a normal Christian life for the church life. May the Lord do such perfecting work in all the saints in my locality that the church may be built up. As God gave us a spirit of sobermindedness, may we exercise our spirit to be sobermindedness.

Life Lesson: Electric Bill Issue

At times, the Lord uses unusual situation to teach me so rhat I can learn something spiritual in a very fine and detailed way. This time, my surprised lesson came through a mismatched electric bill. The issue could have been easily resolved had I wished to simply change connection and clear the matter in one go. But my conscience did not allow me to do that for a very wonderful and spiritual reason.

Once the mismatched in my electric bill was discovered, I had a contact with my house owner with whom I had not been contacting for quite sometime now. Because, my portion of the bill was charged at the minimum and the empty flat adjacent to my flat was inflated with a bill when nobody lived there. So, I lodge a complaint through a brother. Upon investigation, it was learnt that my electric usage was billed to my neighbor, and the vacant flat's billing was recorded in mine. Perhaps, there was a mixed up connection when one electrical came to settle the electrical issue in my flat. I could not figure out how it all happened.

Due to this issue, I had to frequent the electricity office in DLF-1 and interact with almost all the staffs there. It was a good exercise for me, especially in dealing with the local people in their local language, Hindi. I realised that my Hindi had improved a lot. I could converse with them fluently without any hesitation. Besides, I got to know the people serving the area of my residence. Finally, after back and forth visitations and conversations, it was concluded that I settle the bill as it is. So, I volunteered to settle the bill and coordinated with my house owner to resolve the bill among us. Should the issue arises again next time, I might have to go for changing the connections.

This was an unexpected situation the Lord used to renew my contacting my house owner who is also a brother in the Lord. This situation also helped me to know how to deal with local people with local issues and not be dependent on any one. Even this incident helped me to exercise my spirit to contact the Lord and also exercise my conscience not to have any offense. 

O what an experience of Christ even in small issue. The Lord is experiencable in every situation. He is the God of small things too; so subjective and real.