Lesson from Resignation

A week ago, a video clip was sent to me of a brother involved in his business meet. This matter was addressed three years ago. However, he has been entangled in it since then, despite his words to discontinue. As from my side, I did all that I could to shepherd him and help him to recover. It was my desire that he be preserved in his service. But its all upto him and how he handle his matter before the Lord.

In the light of such incident, we had a phone call conversation to hear from his own mouth of the evidence we had gotten. Since the matter was a violation of what he had promised three years ago and the seriousness of this can affect his service effectively. Though my coordinating brother could not tolerate the confrontation and had to drop out of the call, I felt it was necessary to give him an opportunity again to take his own call whether to drop his unwarranted business or drop his service, as the two cannot go on simultaneously. Besides, no matter the violation of his promise, he is still a brother in the Lord. Therefore, I deemed it gracious on our part to give him time to pray and consider his own course with a brotherly word of fellowship and prayer.

Four days after the phone call conversation, he sent a mail of resignation to me. Once I saw it, I felt that this was from the Lord and prepared myself for the next course of action. The following week, we happened to be Hyderabad for a national brothers fellowship where we brought the matter also to the brothers in the state of his residence. The conclusion of the matter was to accept his resignation and to make arrangement for his substitute while making a formal announcement to all the leading brothers of the local churches in the state he had been serving. 

On the 14th April, I had a call with him in a way of brotherly fellowship and confirmed the matter that he took his decision to resign after he had brought the matter in prayer before the Lord and in fellowship with his family members. I also paved the way for the smooth transfer of his service to another brother and gave a time till the end of this month. And on the same day, I wrote a mail, acknowledging an official acceptance of his resignation. 

On the 15th April night, we had an online fellowship with all the key brothers of the churches his service had covered. I prayed sufficiently and made the announcement to all the brothers online in a brotherly way. I carefully worded my words just to convey the matter clearly with an exercised spirit as not to give any room for the enemy to do anything. The brother convening the meeting too handled the matter wisely and concluded the meeting with prayers for the brother. Thus, the matter was dealt with as it ought to be. In all the processes, I experienced the Lord a lot, praying and praying over the matter, and got through it. I accepted the Lord’s sovereignty in this regard.

Later, when another substitute was proposed too, I took it to prayer and concluded that the Lord's will be done again. I told a brother who made the proposal that I would not stand between God and the brothers to hinder His decision. I would only amen what the Lord had confirmed through the Body. In this matter too, I experienced the Lord.

The literature service is the Lord’s and I am a part of it by His mercy. It is all upto the Lord to decide who He choose to serve. I would only exercise to be one with the Lord and the brothers.

What an experience even in this matter of a brother's resignation from a service! What a rest and peace to simply trust in the Lord and let Him do His work! This was indeed a wonderful life lesson learnt from the resignation of a servine one.

Honor Thy Parent

“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise, “That it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:2-3, RecVer

God has graced me to honor my parent in the best possible way. As they came to stay with us in Gurugram for a month, my wife and I did all that we could to honor them by taking good care of them.

I, on my part, took care of all their medical needs, the main purpose for which they visited us. Especially, their dental works, whihc took a lot of time, with manynvisits to the dentist. My mom's denture work was done to the best of her satisfaction. And on her request, I also purchase the shoe of her choice. And for my dad, twenty four root canal treatment were done and he got a brand new set of teeth! It was indeed joy to witness them being so joyful with their brand new teeth. No matter what the dental treatment cost was, the joy of seeing them joyful was worth the price.

Two and half decades ago, it was they who still took care of me financially. Now, the role has reversed. As they grew more mature in age, my responsibility was to take care of them. The Lord has blessed me and graced me to be able to do my best to take care of them. 

Often, in our family prayers, my mom and dad would pray prayers thanking God from the depth of their being for meeting all their needs and also prayed for us and blessed us. To me that was what matters the most. Their acknowledgment of God's blessing and their prayer to God for blessing us meant a lot. 

One day, we went out for outing to Ambience Mall and I showed them things around with a treat at an eatery. Another day, I took them out for buying shoes. And another day, for a dinner lovefeast at a brother's house. In these practical ways of time spent together, their visitation was memorable and joyful.

After all works were accomplished exactly after a month's stay with us, I dropped them to Delhi Airport on the 10th April and they left home for Manipur. Overall, it was a wonderful family time spent together in Gurugram. 

Praise the Lord for all His provision and blessing! This is a practical way in which we could honor our parent. May the good God grant them good health and long life filled with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit!

Lesson on the Abyss

I am the First and the Last. And the living One; and I became dead, and behold, I am living forever and ever; and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Revelation of John 1:17-18, RecVer

The Lord Jesus Christ, after accomplishing redemption through the cross, went to the abyss, declaring God's victory over Satan and his followers. Then, He resurrected and entered into glory. Today, He is the Living One who has the keys of death and of Hades. As such a One, He is also the victorious One subjectively in the lives of the saints who give Him the full ground. 

Excerpt from HWMR Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (4)  Week 38 “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ that is, to bring Christ up from the dead”—Rom. 10:7: 

1. In Greek the word rendered as “abyss” is abyssos.

2. This word is used in Luke 8:31 in reference to the dwelling place of the demons—vv. 27, 33, 35, 38.

3. It also occurs in Revelation 9:1-2 and 11 to denote the place out of which the “locusts,” whose king is Apollyon, will come.

4. In Revelation 11:7 and 17:8 it signifies the place out of which the beast, which is the Antichrist, will ascend.

5. In Revelation 20:1 and 3 it specifies the place into which Satan will be cast and imprisoned during the millennium.

6. In Romans 10:7 abyss points to the place Christ visited after His death and before His resurrection, which place, according to Acts 2:24 and 27, is Hades, for Acts 2:24 and 27 reveal that Christ went into Hades after He died and rose from that place in His resurrection.

7. According to biblical usage, the word abyss always refers to the region of death and of Satan’s power of darkness into which Christ, after His death, descended as into the lower parts of the earth (Eph. 4:9), which He conquered, and from which He ascended in His resurrection.

The burden in studying and knowing concerning the abyss or Hades is to be brought to the experience of the Lord’s victory that He accomplished at the cross. The experiences of the saints being built up in the Body is the defeat of Hades.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18, RecVer

There are the objective literal abyss and Hades, but the burden is to experience subjectively the overcoming of such a region of darkness in the domain of the devil. In principle, where Christ reigns, there is life, light, victory, and glory. Though Christ is in the spirit of the saints today, the question is, whether this Christ in the spirit also reigns in the souls of the saints. To be in Christ and Christ in us is one thing. Yet, to live in Christ and to let Christ live in us is yet another thing. The need of the time is to let Christ live in us and enjoy the Christ of Christ.

That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, Ephesians 3:17, RecVer

A senior and mature brother had released his burden in the recent training after his many years of walking with the Lord, the need to allow Christ to make His home in our hearts. He even prayed a prayer that can be prayed again and again,  that the Lord may have access to the deepest part of our being. In that way, where the Lord is, there is the victory.

Two weeks ago, I was assigned this message to lead the saints in PSRP on the Lord’s Day afternoon. Initially, I reckon the message as too objective. However, as I studied, prepared, and prayed over the points, the Lord gave me new light. While PSRPing with the saints, I enjoyed the Lord's anointing so much so that the message also touched me so deeply, together with all the saints. As I encouraged the saints, I was also so much encouraged to be fully open to the Lord and give the Lord full access to the deepest part of my being. In this way, the victory of the Lord Jesus as the Living One who has the keys of death and of Hades will be my victory as well. I don't need to fight for victory for it has already been accomplished. I must enjoy that victory by allowing Christ to make His home in my heart.

What a relief to know this truth! What a rest and peace to learn this secret! It's all vain to fight the wrong battle of the self against death and Hades. Even if anyone tries, it will all be futile. If we are wise enough, we will not even try. Instead, open to the Lord, and allow Christ to come and make His home in our hearts. Then, Christ is the Victor will be our victory as well!

Last Lord’s Day, when I gave the concluding words, an echoing of the same burden in the previous week's PSRP, the saints could respond with amens and resonate the same burden as we all have trouble fighting with death and Hades in principle in our daily lives. What a time speaking of the Lord! What a ministry of the word! What a divine dispensing through the word!

Praise the Lord! Christ is Victor! 

Experiencing Christ through Dentistry

In 2023, my dad came to visit us and his dental works was done along with other medical checkups. Since last year, he had been calling me for another visit, to follow up on his eyes and dental works. But due to my hectic traveling schedule, I was able to bring them here only this month after my son completed his Class X board exam.

I had done my preliminary research on where and when to do the medical tests for my parent before they came. For the eyes, an eye hospital was already identified. But for the dental works, I had various options. However, I checked with a dentist brother known to me. Upon his advise only, a month's time was scheduled for dental works. In fact, I also tried to check other dentist nearby our residence. By the way, I almost finalised with a new dentist. But at the last minute, after I came to  know about what works need to be done and the cost invovlved in it, I immediately changed back to the brother whom I already know and had done a work with before. Then, the dental works started with this brother.

With this debtist who is also a brother in the Lord, one challenge I faced was driving into a narrow crowded lane to get to his dental clinic and the issue of parking. However, I was able to cope up with the driving snd parking in that crowded place. It was a driving test and experience for me.

The peace and joy within me in working with this dentist brother was the deciding point in coming to him again and again when there are many other dental clinics easily and comfortably accessible to me. Even tbe price he quoted was peacefully acceptable to me. The inward peace was the deciding factor. Whether the rate was high or low was not what concerned me, but the inward peace the Lord gave to me in my spirit was. So, with the challenges, I happily decided to work with this dentist brother.

Both my mom and dad were satisfied with the dental works they received from him. Besides, as a brother in Christ, he did his dentist works with care and concern. It was the spiritual rapport that gave me peace in working with this brother. Almost a month had passed and almost the works were done. Through the process, I experienced Christ in the following aspects.

In following the Lord's leading to work with him when I actually decided otherwise, I experienced the Lord in avery practical and human way. The Lord worked out things and changed my heart to take His way. I learned to give up my plan when I realised God had already planned something better. And once God decided a thing, He also made all things worked together for me to take His plan. That's how experienced Christ practically.

The money that I would spentd on other dentists, now I am spending on a brother for the same work. At least, a brother also benefitted with his decision.

I had learnt important lessons on coordination even in professional works.

And most importantly, I was able to recover back the fellowship and truth pursuing with him. About a year ago, I kind-of gave up on following up this brother for shepherding as he was mostly busy with his works and was already a part of another congregation. But this time, the dental work brought us back together, and recovered our weekly shepherding fellowship. 

Praise the Lord! I simply marvel at how God worked all things together for good for His chidren, especially for me. Praise the Lord for this wonderful experiences of Christ through dental works for my parent.

Shepherding and Shepherding

He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep. John 21:16, RecVer

The Lord loves us and we love the Lord too, of course, by His divine love. The reality of loving the Lord is shepherding His sheep. 

These days, though I did not travel for the ministry, I have been very busy in my locality. Personal time with the Lord in prayer and the word, official works on the weekdays, small group meetings during the week and the church meetings on the weekends, and taking care of the family's need, especially caring for my father and mother who are with us these days. Life is truly meaningful and worth the life. Each day, when I reviewed what were done during the day, I was amazed at how much works were accomplished. Sometimes, I could hardly believe that I could do so much everyday. If not by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, it would have been impossible. Praise the Lord!

Some noteworthy visitations were:

Out of burden from the Lord, I initiated a weekly Recovery Version Study time with two different young brothers on the Lord’s Day afternoon and evening. Each time, we simply read a chapter from the gospel of Matthew and then, all the footnotes in that chapter. Then, a fellowship on the crucial points with illustrations and examples. Each session began and ended with prayers. The whole session lasted about an hour each. In that way, the burden for shepherding the young saints was being carried out. May the Lord gain these brothers and perfect them for His testimony. 

A sister has just shifted to a new house. Yesterday, we visited her and enjoyed a time of fellowship over lunch. She invited us a week ago for this visit. She also confirmed to us her deep concern for the things she have been going through. We encouraged her and prayed for her. 

This week too, an old contact contacted my wife and requested if her maid could go to any "church." We just replied that we could pick and drop her. So, today after her maid attended the meeting, we dropped her off and also spent a time of fellowship with her. Actually, we preached the gospel in a way of friendly talk and read a portion from the ministry material online. We believe this was the Lord’s doing to save her and her household. We pray that the Lord would save her and her who family. This was perhaps, the second time we visited after about five years gap. A lot had transpired in her family by then. She has been much open for the gospel now. Lord, save her.

Likewise, my family has been graced to participate in the small groups meetings on Tuesdays and Fridays. Each group has each own needs. And the shepherding was carried out according to the situation in each group.

Meanwhile, a brother who is in the Middle East, in the midst of the war there, called me twice for prayers this week. He is one of the young brothers shepherded from his young age in the church life here. We prayed together for ourselves, the Lord’s move in India, and the situation in the UAE. It was such a sweet shepherding prayer time.

In this way, the Lord is shepherding the saints and the new ones in His way and at His time. I have been graced to be shepherded along with all these ones. That's why my life has become kind-of busy but enjoyable and very meaningful. I believe this is one of the reasons God had called me to serve full-time. Praise the Lord!

God of Measure Dispensing Zoe-Life

But we will not boast beyond our measure but according to the measure of the rule which the God of measure has apportioned to us, to reach even as far as you.

For we are not extending ourselves beyond our bounds, as if we did not reach you, for we were the first to come even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ.

We are not boasting beyond our measure in others’ labors, but have the hope, as your faith is increasing, to be magnified in you according to our rule unto abundance,

2 Corinthians 10:13-15, RecVer

God is a God of measure. Knowing this truth is a great salvation. As I was listening to the message on the apostle Paul's testimony of not boasting beyond his measure God had apportioned to him, my whole being trembled in fear in a positive way, to be faithful within His measure and was being warned not to go beyond my measure. Having known this truth, I should not underfunction nor overfunction. But be faithful within the limit of God's measure.

This revelation is a great relief not to be ambitious of what the Lord has not apportioned to me but be faithful to whatever the God of measure has alloted to me. Such realisation is a great salvation and preserves the oneness in the Body of Christ. 

Though we have the burden to do as much as possible for the Lord, we can only do so within His measure. He limits us through the environment which we accept willingly, though difficult at times, and we also sense His inner peace to be or not to be. Inward and outward, we submit to His sovereignty and amen all that He restricts in His will and way. What a relief to learn to live and serve within the measure of the God of measure!

Zoe-ology

The thief does not come except to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and may have it abundantly.

John 10:10, 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

So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:45, RecVer

For the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death.

Romans 8:2, RecVer

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6, RecVer

But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.

Romans 8:10-11, RecVer

The God of measure is the God who gives life, Zoe, the divine and eternal life. He dispenses His very life to His chosen and redeemed people first into the spirit, then into the soul, and finally into the body, making the entire tripartite being of man, a man of life. For this, God dispensing has been going on since regeneration. No matter what the environment may be, He always find ways to dispense His Zoe life i to His chidren. The goal of Zoe dispensing is to gain the one new man, the built up Body of Christ, that consummates the New Jerusalem!

Lord, grace us to live and serve within Your measure and receive Your divine dispensing day by day, moment by moment, all the days of life, as men of life, fulfilling Your eternal economy. 

A Special Note on My Wife

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from Jehovah. Proverbs 19:14, RecVer

Today, my wife enters a new year in her physical life again. As a matter of fact, we generally don't celebrate birthday in a worldly way. What we generally do is, we thank and praise the Lord for His faithfulness and blessings all these years and pray together as a family. The focus on such occasion is Christ who is our life, our living, and our all in all.

In my Bible reading time today, the Lord impressed me with His words concerning my wife from Proverbs 19:14. A prudent wife is from Jehovah! I have been blessed by the Lord all these years with a prudent wife! Together with the Lord's grace and blessings, our family has been under the Lord’s sovereign blessing. Health and wealth may have been inherited as the Lord graciously allows, but a prudent wife is only from the Lord.

On this day too, I thank and praise the Lord for giving me my wife, a blessed favor from the Lord. As a token of gratitude, I purchased a cake of my wife's choice. And to make it more meaningful, I also took her to purchase a new pair of eye glass, the need of the moment, of the best quality available from a lens company. Along with it, I also got a new eye glass for myself, to make it more memorable. In all these practical things, we make life memorable.

Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from Jehovah. Proverbs 18:22, RecVer

Truly, in all these twenty years of our marriage life, I can testify that I have obtained a special favor from Jehovah for He gave me a good and prudent wife. Throughout the years, I have been experiencing and enjoying a wonderful marriage life, together with a fruitful and joyful family life. It has been confirmed to me, time and gain, that my wife indeed has been the perfect will of the Lord for me. Therefore, I exhorted the young ones whenever I was given the opportunity, to seek and resolve to do only the perfect will of the Lord, especially, for their future marriage.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, and praise You for my wife! Continue to preserve and prosper this marriage life all the days of our lives. 

Experience of Christ: Through Board Exams

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to Jehovah. Proverbs 21:31, RecVer

This year, two of our children wrote their board exams for tenth and twelfth standard. They both were very active in the school extra curricular activities during their school days. In fact, I encouraged them to participate in as much activities as possible despite their upcoming board exams. To me, education has to be all-inclusive, not merely studies and marks. School time is the best time in their lives to experience all these. Once they graduate from high school, they will be in a different realm altogether. By the way, they even had to miss some of the second pre-board papers due to the many activities of the school. To me, that was perfectly fine, as they were given sufficient days for studies before they appear for the board exams.

My burden during their board exams was for them to experience Christ in a deeper, richer, and higher way. I have fellowshiped with both of them to trust the Lord, spend sufficent time with the Lord in prayers, and study diligently that they may experience Christ as their wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, and understanding. And in the process, gain Christ richly. Therefore, as my fellowship and my burden was, I also prayed for them very much. In fact, even in the church prayers, family prayers, and personally prayers, they were being prayed for regularly from the start of the first paper till the last paper, which was today.

As the prayers were, the Lord truly graced both of them to write their exams well. In fact, much better than their school exams, and much better than they even expected. Now, that the Lord had led them in their exams, we prayerfully wait for the result. No matter how their results will turn out to be, I told them to accept whatever marks they will score as from the Lord. They have doen their best and we leave the rest to God.

As me for me too, mainly for their board exams, I put on hold all my traveling plans and be with my chidren during this crucial time of their lives. I dropped and picked them in all the days they appeared for the exams, giving them all the fatherly love and care, moral and spiritual support. Their exams were my exams too.

Praise the Lord for this wonderful experience and enjoyment of the Lord through the board exams! Humanly, the best possible was done. They have studied well and prepared for the exams, success and victory the Lord will give. Now, awaiting the divine blessings for their further progress.

Best from Waste

Therefore thus says Jehovah, If you return, I will restore you; You will stand before Me; And if you bring out the precious from the worthless, You will be as My mouth; They will turn to you, But you will not turn to them. Jeremiah 15:19, RecVer

Once in a while when I have time and sensed the need, I would devote myself to doing the household works that I deemed fit. Despite living in a high end community, the house we live in is an old building with zero furniture and many signs of wear and tear are visible. I have tried my best to fix many things myself. In fact, this old house has taught me how to do electrical works, plumbing works, painting works, along with decorating, rearranging, and cleaning now and then. Since the last eighteen years, I have done many things I could, and learned a lot of practical lessons which I probably may never learn if not for the condition of this house. What a blessing in disguise!

A few weeks ago, I receivrd a call from a brother whose acquaintance was wanting to give away a few pieces of furniture. Without any hesitation, I received the offer. That triggered a wave of rearrangements in our house. Some things were worth throwing away, but I reconsidered their usability carefully before disposing them. In doing so, I ended up using them all over again, perhaos, in a different way. I call this act as, best from waste.

In fact, I told my son that I have been exercising God given wisdom to turn seemingly wastefull things to useful furniture. The idea I had when executed indeed became a beautiful thing. So, I took a few hours to execute my idea and gave our house a new look. That gave me immense joy, appreciating the God given wisdom of turning "waste to best."

To me, this is a small domestic experiment. If one can turn waste to best in small things, the same can happen in big things. The principle is the same. Some worthless and useless fellows can also be shepherded and perfected into useful vessels to the Lord. This is the "art of shepherding" that stems from God given wisdom, with exercised spirit and renewed mind.

Therefore, I don't give up many new ones that are seeming "useless" and "spiritually a waste" today, instead I picked up the burden to pray for them regularly. And one day, as the Lord allows, shepherd and perfect them to become fruitful functiong members in the Body of Christ. 

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58, RecVer

A New Way: Small Group Meetings

Last Lord’s Day, the Lord’s speaking was on continuing steadfastly in remembering the Lord by participating in the bread breaking meeting and also in the small group meeting until the Lord returns. The former is for remembering the Lord as the Head of the Body, Christ, and the later is for the building up of the Body of the Head, the church. And both are for bridging the gap between now till the Lord returns.  

Following the burden, we have been practicing bothin our church life. These days, we have been strengthening the small group living of the saints where we retain the existing saints, recover the dormant saints, and revive the function of the saints in gospel preaching and perfecting for the building up of the Body. 

In our group meeting in Secotr 56 area, we have completed the pursuing of the Life Lessons of four volumes. Now, we are starting a new series, Messages for Building Up the New Believers, in which we encouraged all the saints to study the messages and be constituted with the truth before coming to the meeting, and during the meeting, we all exercise to share the truth and fellowship after some assigned ones gave the week's message overview. 

In the other three group meetings, in Velley View, Kanhai Gaon, and Sector 4,  that comprises the new believer ls and new ones too, we purse the Shepherding Materials, lesson by lesson. It was the sovereignty of the Lord that each week, the Lord spoke in a definite way according to the need of the new ones. In two of the small groups with the new ones, I myself enjoyed being supplied by the ministry and by also supplying the ministry to others. The Lord knows the present need of the saints and He speaks according to the present situation of all the saints. 

What a wonderful church-life where the building up of the Bidy is taking place! Hallelujah for the Body! Hallelujah for the speaking of the Lord in and through the small group meetings!

Small group meeting and living is the way to practically shepherd and build up the saints. Small group meeting is our small group living too. What was lacking in the Lord’s Day meeting could be compensated in the small group meetings at the homes of the saints. This is the new way the Lord showed us for our continuing stedfastly until He returns. Praise the Lord for the new way!

Beating and Shining

And you shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand with its base and its shaft shall be made of beaten work; its cups, its calyxes, and its blossom buds shall be of one piece with it. Exodus 25:31, RecVer

Today, I prophesied on what I have been enjoying in the last week on the truth and experience concerning the "beating of gold" to form the lampstand and the "shining of the lampstand" to give light to the people in darkness. 

As Christians, we have received God's divine life, the gold, already. However, this gold must be shared into a lampstand. For the shaping, the beating of the gold is a must. Without beating the gold, it simply remains a lump of gold without any specific meaningful and adorable shape. Only the beating can form the lampstand. Likewise, we all need to be "beaten" until we are shaped, conforming to the image of the lampstand for the testimony of Jesus.

The beating work is being carried out by the Holy Spirit day by day through all the happenings in the environment sovereignly arranged by God. One need not pray for sufferings but at the proper time as God deems best, He will give the sufferings along with His grace to experience the Lord through the sufferings. In this way, the golden lampstand comes into being. In fact, the more the beating, the more the shaping will happen. Along with the beating too, there will be the shining as the Holy Spirit will fill those whom He disciplined.

I do believe that through these many years of the "beating of gold," the Lord has gained His bright shining golden lampstand gradually, even here in our locality, the church in Gurugram. This is in line with the Scriptures. 

Hebrews 12:6-11, RecVer

6. For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.”

7. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons. For what son is there whom the father does not discipline?

8. But if you are without discipline, of which all sons have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

9. Furthermore we have had the fathers of our flesh as discipliners and we respected them; shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

10. For they disciplined for a few days as it seemed good to them; but He, for what is profitable that we might partake of His holiness.

11. Now no discipline at the present time seems to be a matter of joy, but of grief; but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised by it.

Experience of Christ: Housing, Rental, and Other Matters

The Lord has brought my family to this city Gurugram for His divine purpose. My responsibility has always been to simply follow the Lord's leading and obey His speaking. Though I often had my own feelings and opinions, I have gradually learned to submit to His sovereign arrangement in every matter concerning my life and my family with all the practical matters of housing, schooling, etc.

This new year, my house owner proposed an increase in rental and I felt good to increase too, within my capacity. For at least two months, I was not clear on deciding the percentage of increase. Though, as my house owner had his proposal, he also gave me the liberty to consider, as we are brothers in Christ and our lives are for the Lord’s divine purpose on this earth. Therefore, I also prayed, considered, amd waited on the Lord for a good length of time. In the process, I experienced the Lord a lot.

Finally, I felt I should visit him at his house along with another brother with whom I have been coordinating in many spiritual and official matters. During our fellowship, we came to conclude on certain figure which gave me so much peace within. Besides, I also had the peace within to take care of additional expenses for faulty wiring and renovation works of the building which righteously may not necessarily be my responsibility as a tenant in the premises of our residence for over eighteen years now. 

My decision was based primarily on the Lord’s peace within, and not on the financial matter involved. My principle is very simple: All that I have is from the Lord. And I should use it as He leads wherever and howevermuch the need is. If the need is more, He gives more. I must not love money nor waste it but use it wisely to meet the needs; be it personal, family, church, or the Lord’s work.

The Lord’s peace is the deciding factor in my decision making. And when I obeyed the Lord’s leading despite my feelings and opinions, the peace, life, and joy that followed is amazing. Praise the Lord for such a life lesson!

In this way, I experienced and enjoyed rhe Lord in deciding for housing, rental, and many other practical matters. I gave up my own choice. I choose the Lord’s choice for me. He knows where I should reside and for how long. Until He leads further, I stay put wherever He led me thus far. Only when He leads further, I will follow further. 

Where His leading is, there His presence is. I treasure the Lord’s presence more than anything else. No matter the location or the condition of the house, no matter the rental high or low, the presence of God that comes along with His peace, life, and joy is the deciding factor. O what a precious life lesson!

Lord, preserve me in Your perfect peace in doing Your perfect will in every practical points pertaining to me.

Blending and Lovefeast in Delhi

Last Thursday, on the 19th of March, as a family we had a blending and lovefeast fellowship over lunch at a brother's house in Delhi. The Lord’s Day before, the 15th of March, we enjoyed a combined Lord’s Table Meeting in Delhi for all the saints and the churches in NCR. In both the meetings, my mom and dad also participated. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and blending. Since 1997 I have been praying for them. Until 2011, my prayer was for the salvation especially of my dad. One everyone got saved, I prayed for their growth in life and participation in the normal.church life. Then, from 2012, the Lord recovered them for the church life in my home time. Now, when they visited us here in Gurugram, they also participated in the church life; small group meetings and fellowship withthe saints.

These two meetings were special as my parent were able to join during their visit to us. The Lord has also provided the needed vehicle at the right time for this purpose. In the two meetings, my parent had the opportunity to meet with many other saints.  It has been my prayer that the Lord would bless them even in their old age to be a channel of blessing to the younger generation. 

May the Lord continue to bless them richly.

Family Reunion in Gurugram

Since last year, my father has been calling me, requesting for a proper time for him to come visit us. Due to my hectic traveling schedule, I was no able to make any arrangement as their visit required at least a month's stay for medical check ups, especially, their dental works to be done. Therefore, only  this month was conducive for me, as I also put on hold all traveling plans as long as my parent are with me.

Once my son completed his class ten board exam, my mom and dad came to visit us. Right away, I started all the medical tests, eye check up, and dental works. Every night, we ate meals together, had some fellowship, and prayed together. They both are very happy to be with us especially with their grand children.

To me, this is the blessing of God and an answer to all the prayers we have offered for our parent. My prayers for my parents, both mine and my wife's, have been that the Lord would bless them with Himself as the Blessing; bless them with good health and long life filled with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. In fact, this prayer has been answered. 

As much as the Lord graced me, I would do my best to honor my parent according to His words.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise, “That it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:1-3, RecVer

The future is in the Lord’s hand which I know nothingabout, and the present is also in the Lord’s hand which I can cooperate with God in honoring my earthly patent. As long as, and as much as possible, trusting in the Lord’s grace, I would do my best to honor my parent in every practical way possible. It was a joy indeed to take care of them practically, buying for them whatever they need, especially, the food they enjoy to eat. Spiritual and mental peace along with physical supply as the Lord provides, is what they have been enjoying these days. 

We have been enjoying our family reunion in Gurugram as the Lord has been gracing and blessing us. May the Lord’s grace and blessings continue to be our enjoyment.

Blessed New Beginning at Sixteen

Today, the Lord graced my son again and led him futher to begin a new year. He turned sixteen and began a new year again. A few days ago, as I was praying for him, the Lord gave me the verse for him with which I also designed a card as a remembrance of God’s faithfulness.

Watch, stand firm in the faith, be full-grown men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13, RecVer

This time with my parent at home, we decided to have a special meal at home rather then dine out as we used to and additionally ordered pizza of his choice from outside. The main burden for such an occasion was to thank and praise the Lord for all His blessings and all that He has done in our lives. In fact, my parent were so thankfull to the Lord and were very gladful for all the works God has been doing in our lives.

In the night, as I and my son went out to pray, I also testified to him of how the Lord brought me and his mother together, of how the Lord bountifully supplied all our needs, financially and otherwise, and how the Lord graced me to take His perfect will in my life in following His calling to serve Him and also in marrying according to His sovereign leading. Besides, I also testified to him of how happy my parent are now though they opposed me vehemently decades ago when I decided to give up my worldly career and serve the Lord full-time. The point was, we must resolve in our heart to seek and to do the perfect will of the Lord in every matter of our life, no matter what.

This was the Lord’s leading to let my son know at the proper time what his father has been experiencing in following the Lord. Then, as usual, we enjoyed a time of prayer together. Gradually, I led him to pick up the same burden the Lord gave me. He has also learned to pick up the prayer burdens the Lord bestowed me with. 

I also gifted him a specially designed note book for him to record his spiritual experiences, a good land book, and encouraged him to record whatever experiences and enjoyment the Lord would give him, henceforth. 

May the Lord continue to lead him as the Bible verse is: Watch, stand firm in the faith, be full-grown men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13, RecVer

Blessed New Beginning Again

“Surely blessing, I will bless you; and multiplying, I will multiply you.” (Hebrews 6:14, RecVer)

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of Jehovah For the length of my days. (Psalms 23:6, RecVer)

A blessed new beginning again to our first daughter today as she turns eighteen! 

As I was praying last night concerning her, the Lord gave me the two Bible verses on blessing. Therefore, I designed a card as a remembrance of God's promised blessing. I wanted to make it special as she turns eighteen. 

Besides, this might be her last birthday in India before she leaves for studies as we plan for her to go abroad for the next level of her learning; academically, physically, and spiritually. 

As usual, as a family we went to eat at their favorite restaurant, Mc Donald's. Since their childhood, Mc Donald's or KFC has been their favorite. Though there are many other restaurants, somehow, these ones have their childhood memories attached to it. These makes them happy. As a father, their happiness is my happiness, though I personally would hardly visit these restaurants if not for my chidren. The crux of the matter is, to spend time with the family and make the children happy.

Though my son and daughter had their board exams today, the family time we usually spent together during their birthdays has been maintained. By the way, the Lord blessed them in their exams too. Praise the Lord!

In the evening, we attended the weekly group meeting in Valley View. The Lord led me to spend time with a new brother while eating dinner. The burden for this young brother was for his spiritual health. I encouraged him to start spending specific time with the Lord in prayer, read the Bible daily, and also gave an assigned to read a message a day from the Shepherding Materials.

Later, when we started the group meeting, we tweaked the meeting according the Spirit's leading. Instead of the normal pursueing, I released the burden the Lord gave me for the saints. That is, to recover and strengthen the personal prayer life daily, read the word of God daily to receive the Lord's speaking, and seek and do the perfect will of the Lord in matter of their life. The meeting was so rich. We all enjoyed the building and builded God dispensing Himself into us and dispensing His life into others through us. What a blessed day indeed it was!

Experience of Christ: Board Exams

This year and this month, my son and daughter appeared for their tenth and twelveth CBSE board exams. I had already fellowshipped with both of them a couple of times concerning practical studies, preparing well in time, and above all, trusting in the Lord and praying for His blessing. Yes, to pray for blessing in addition to fulfilling all the human responsibilities. 

By the Lord’s mercy, they both have been studying well. My encouragement for them was and is, to experience the Lord in their board exams. To this extent, I even posted in the church and family WhatsApp group for prayer.

Prayer for CBSE Board Exams

Remember in your prayers for our young brother and sister writing their board exams from 17 Feb 2026

That they may experience the Lord as their wisdom, understanding, knowledge, intelligence, and peace.

That they reap the fruit of their labor in their studies through this exam and enjoy the Lord as their grace and receive His blessing.

As requested and prayed for, the Lord indeed blessed them in all the papers they have written so far. Especially with my son, with his first paper on Maths, I was so thankful to the Lord for helping him. Since then, deep within, I had the full assurance that they both will do well in their exams and will come out with flying colors.

More often, I used to go out with my son in the night these days, praying together holding hands. We both enjoyed our father-son prayer time. For this purpose, I also paused all my traveling until the time their exams will be completed.

Besides, tbe Lord also kept me very busy attending to the office, church, and household needs during this time. In fact, I have been experiencing being very busy, yet I have never missed my prayer time, Bible reading, corporate and family prayers, and still attended all the meetings of the church.

Yes, exam time for my chidren academically. Yes, exam time for me personally as I have been tested to handle all my responsibilities by trusting the Lord. In all these, I experience the Lord in a very deep, personal, intimate, affectionate, and sweet way. Though I could not eat on time and get enough rest due to work pressure, the Lord has been my Shepherd, moment by moment.

O what a wonderful way to experience Christ! I believe, my son and daughter also are experiencing Christ very deeply and richly these days. 

Even when the exams are over, and the works pressure reduced, still the experience and enjoyment of Christ must go on and on. Board exams and life exams are for us to experience Christ and gain Christ!

Experience of Christ: In Official Matter

Last month, just before I left for the ministry literature journey, I had applied for the renewal of my USA visa. After the journey, when I went to collect my passport, I was informed to appear for an interview. I was hoping that interview waiver should apply. However, I was given the liberty to appear for interview anytime I wish during the working hours of the USA embassy in Delhi within a period of one year. I was wondering when I should appear as I had many works to attend too. 

In considering the matter, I realised that I also should bring this matter to fellowship with my coordinating brother though I had already fellowshipped with the brothers in the USA as I needed their approval and also a USA contact address. The brothers approved and advised me to go for renewal and my brother also did the same, even to do it as soon as possible. 

While I was praying for this matter one night, the Lord specifically told me to appear for an interview on Monday the 23rd of February. Later, I realised that this was exactly one month before my existing visa would expire. So, I went to the embassy.

Though I had the plan to complete my interview at the earliest possible so that I could still join the brothers' prayer in the morning at 9 AM and truth pursuing at 9:30 AM. The Lord had a better plan. Despite reaching the consulate office well on time, I was delayed in two matters. I had to join a queue for depositing my mobile phone which I could have done had I known that it needed to be done. I had to leave a queue to join another queue and then come back to the same queue. At least thirty minutes was wasted on extra queuing. Later, after waiting at four differnt queues for different kinds of security checks and crowd management, I was directed to go to Counter 14. But I did not know I could go straight as there was another long queue. So, I waited for another thirty minutes. But, when I enquired further to the security personel, I was informed that I need not stand on the queue as I was alloted a designated counter for my visa renewal. Then, I appeared for the interview and answered a couple of questions the officer in charge asked me. Then, he confirmed that my USA was approved and I submitted my passport for visa stamping. 

When I came out, I already missed the brothers' prayer and also the truth pursuing. Actually, it did not happen as I usually was the one who initiated the calls. Then, on my way back before I could join another official fellowship at 11 AM, I listened to the first half of the recent ICS conference message two, which I missed out as I needed to drop my son for his exam. When I finished listening to the message, I could start the next official meeting exactly at 11 AM even while still in a car on my way back.

This was one such step by step experience of contacting and fellowshipping with the Lord in practical matter that concerns me. 

God cares for all that concerns us! No matter what plan human has, God always has the best plan. He is so good at just being God.

Casting all your anxiety on Him because it matters to Him concerning you. (1 Peter 5:7, RecVer)

Shepherding Families

Two weeks ago, a brother text me of his intent to visit us on the Lord’s Day. I replied by inviting him for lunch too. Later, the Lord reminded me that I should invite him to join the Lord’s Table Meeting too, if the Lord wills so. The next day, his whole family attended the Lord’s Day meeting, though they missed the bread breaking. 

During the prophesying time, he shared what was on his heart even to the point that he voiced his different understanding of the truth. I did not find needful to address the matter as it was not on the major points. However, when my turn came to minister the word, I did so with much grace, releasing my sprit, ministering the truth that I presently enjoyed which I had also posted in some WhatsApp group on Christ as the Physician based on the ministry excerpt.

Christ as the Physician

He said, Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are ill. But go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Matt. 9:12-13

The Lord’s word in Matthew 9:13, addressed to the Pharisees, indicates that the Lord Jesus heals man’s spiritual illness, the illness of sin. Sin came first and death follows. Between sin and death there are all kinds of illnesses, diseases, and infirmities… As sinners, we are sick absolutely, for we are sick physically, spiritually, morally, and mentally. But Jesus, the Forgiver and the Physician, is able to heal all our sicknesses.

As our Physician, the Lord heals us mainly in our spirit and in our soul, not mainly in our body. The tax collectors and sinners in Matthew 9:10 were not physically sick; they were spiritually sick. While the Lord Jesus was feasting with them, He was healing them spiritually. Likewise, although the Lord may or may not heal us in our body, He is always ready to heal us in every part of our spirit and soul. ( The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 2782-2783)

Paul’s experience in his later ministry helps us to have a proper appreciation of Christ as the believers’ Physician. In 2 Timothy 4:20 Paul says, “Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.” Why did the apostle leave such an intimate one in sickness without exercising healing prayer for him? Why did he not also execute his healing gift (Acts 19:11-12) to cure Timothy of his stomach illness rather than instruct him to take the natural way for healing (1 Tim. 5:23)?…There is no record that he prayed for healing, and he certainly did not exercise the gift of healing. Instead, Paul encouraged Timothy to take a little wine, and he left Trophimus at Miletus. Paul cared for his coworkers in a very human way. The reason Paul cared for them in this way is that, in a time of suffering, Paul and his coworkers were under the discipline of the inner life rather than under the power of the outward gift. The former is of grace in life; the latter of gift in power, miraculous power. Paul’s experience should help us to see that, for the most part, Christ’s healing today is for the spirit and the soul . Christ is the believers’ Physician, the Healer of our spirit, our soul, and at times, also of our body. If we see this vision we shall trust in Him and experience Him as our Physician. ( The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 616-617)

After the meeting, the brother apologised to me personally if he had spoken something amiss that might hurt or not in line with the present burden.

The next day, a brother and I visited his family and spent at least three hours of fellowship and peacefully finalised a new rental agreement and renovation works to be done on the building used for the meeting hall, the Lord’s service, and my family residence. This was a very timely and brotherly fellowship we all enjoyed together. 

Later, we visited another family, and enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship with the husband, wife, and chidren. 

All these was the answer to the burden the Lord gave me recently on praying for three families, particularly for their whole family recovery into the church life. In fact, the Lord’s Day before our visit, the three brothers, head of the three families the Lord burdened me to pray for, were seated next to one another. The Lord showed me visibly with my eyes to witness the answers to prayers He burdened me for. 

Praise the Lord!

Shepherding the Sisters

All the saints need shepherding. Young, old, brothers and sisters, all need shepherding. The enemy, in his subtlety, has been trying his best to deceive the saints and lead them astray. In many cases, he seemed to be successful. Yet, the Lord turned those as shepherding opportunities and prayer burdens for the saints. By so doing, He has been perfecting both the shepherd and the sheep in one go. What was meant for destruction turned out to be an opportunity for construction! At the end, God used His enemy, Satan, as His ugly tool to perfect His chidren. What a great and wise God our God is! Hallelujah!

A sister who angrily left the church life for about half a year was finally revisited with the recovery of the small group meeting in her area with her house as the first to be visited. It was a surprise that she finally was willing to open her home again. In fact, this was me and my wife's first visit to her home for such a meeting. I did not share much but testified my enjoyment of the Lord Jesus as a Physician who heals our soul and spirit mostly, and sometimes, the body too. As the Lord burdened me, I simply shared the fact that we all have problems, sick with sin in our body, soul, and spirit. Therefore, the healing we need today is the healing of the soul and spirit mostly. And in a brotherly way, I encouraged her to come back to th church meeting; to forget everything of the past and have a fresh and new beginning. Praise the Lord, last Lord’s Day, we all were very joyful to see our sister attending the meeting and serving!

A sister, by profession, a medical doctor, also called now and then for prayers for the major incidents she has been going through in her lives. I simply prayed by faith whenever she called for prayer. And later, I found that the Lord indeed answered those prayers. When she had to shift, she made another request for help which I brought it to the brothers. Three of us went to assist her in her house shifting. In that way, even in her practical needs, the Lord shepherded her. May the Lord recover her fully for the church life.

A single sister who has been living all alone due to her family's situation also called and requested for a time of truth pursuing. She expressed her hunger and thirst for the word of God. To cater to her need, we have arranged some sisters to pursue with her, the Life-study of Ephesians.

In a similar way, another sister too, out of her desperate situation, called for fellowship and prayer. My wife and I visited her, and we all enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship, showing her that all her family situations are God’s answer to her prayer for her household salvation. She could accept it immediately as she herself has been praying and seeking the Lord for her family salvation. 

In these mysterious ways, the Lord has been shepherding the saints in the church. By His grace and mercy, the Lord will heal our sick soul and spirit, and fully recover us for His strong and shining testimony in Gurugram. 

Shepherding is the way and the Lord as rhe Shepherd created the opportunity for shepherding.