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.