Spiritual Awakening

Often times the going gets tough and it seems the devil's darts are thrown from all angels just aiming at me. Nevertheless, he is the defeated foe, and he needs a reminder time and gain that he is indeed defeated in spite of all his humdrum. Moreover, the Body of Christ is victorious and I am a part of it. The Lord, in and through the Body is my protection and salvation.

These days, my natural kith and keen are under attack and reminds me of Abraham and Lot. Abraham had the resources and strength to rescue physically, but today I have the Lord and His Body. On the one hand, things seems spiraling down to the pit of abyss, but on the contrary, these are channels the Lord uses to remind me of my need for human care in exercising authoritative prayers. A good wake up alarm not to take things for granted but rather be always on the alert caring for all, day by day. A very supportive tool to "Pray Unceasingly."

The Lord in His sovereignty uses situations as these to wake me up and be ever prepared upholding all whomever He arranges under my care. When such happens, the gravity and the intensity of prayer is so deep, genuine and strong. And such prayer issuing from deep within out of the burden from the Lord are so sweet and enjoyable. It brings in the presence of God and the peace of God as an assurance of the answered prayer. The answers are instantaneous, not when or how long, but once the prayer is released it has been answered. O Lord, thank you for whatever transpires. And teach me this lesson of prayer, a prayer in the spirit to pray your prayer.

Virtuous Humanity

Cherishing in Humanity

And Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them possession in the land of Egypt, in the best land,....And Joseph sustained his father and his brothers and all his father's household with food.. Genesis 47:11,12

When blessed by God, Joseph acknowledged the Blesser and realised the reason for the blessings. And having been dealt with by God, he had been trained and perfected and reigned in life manifesting the virtues of God's divine attributes. One of such is a human care, a down to earth, normal expression of a genuine man. He took care of his family in their physical needs when they needed the most, not just to meet the need, but with the best human care. He gave them "the best of the land" and "sustained all his father's household with food." This is cherishing in humanity.

It is indeed true to give oneself fully to the Lord and love Him to the uttermost, giving Him the preeminence, the best and first love, and be freed from the bondage of natural affection. So much the more, it is normal to be humane and care for the human-earthly needs out of the divine life within us. It would rather be strange to be so spiritual without any human shepherding care. The more one is filled with divinity, the more he will be properly humane, for divinity is for humanity and vice versa. One without the other is just an invalid one sided coin.

The Lord spoke to me about my need for more of the cherishing in humanity, to care for the earthly needs too, as much as for the spiritual.

Faithful in Service

Joseph brought the money into Pharoah's house... So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharoah; Genesis 47:14,20

Recognising his official responsibility, Joseph knew his earthly master as much as he knew his heavenly Master. He was faithful to his service and did his best to gather riches--money, land and people, for Pharoah. This sounds un-spiritually strange, "Gathering riches for Pharoah in Egypt?" Well, that was Joseph's official responsibility. Pharoah made him "second-in-command" over all the land of Egypt( v.43).

Similarly, as man on earth, we all have our human, earthly, even official responsibilities in our service. A proper Christian will always be found faithful in whatever task assigned to him, unless the task is against God or His purpose. If the job is such, he should not be working for such. If this is not the case, faithfulness to service is faithfulness to God, because it is God who assigned the service.

The Lord is faithful to reveal this to me. And praise Him for His speaking, perfecting me day by day, to grow and mature bit by bit and climb the heavenly ladder step by step. Lord have mercy on me to be a genuine and proper Christian, cherishing my family and the saints in humanity and faithful to services assigned to me, be it spiritual or official.

Signs of Maturity

And his heart grew numb, for he did not believe them. ...the spirit of Jacob their father revived. And Israel said, It is enough. Genesis 45:26b, 27b, 28a.

Jacob had been agonizing under the assurance of lies that his son Joseph was killed. Surprisingly, out from nowhere, as in a miracle of a fantastic imaginative dream, was told that Joseph was alive! Out of utter disbelief, his heart became numb. The mourning heart for years yearning and longing for his beloved son Joseph knowing assuredly it was a vain desire indeed was suddenly given an electrifying shock of the good news that the ones whom he reckoned death was actually living. His whole soul was emptied out in disbelief, despair and depression. However, his spirit was revived!

A person's heart comprises of his whole soul. Jacob's heart became numb was a proof that his soul became numb. The spirit of man is enveloped by the soul of man. For an un-transformed and immature person, his soul and spirit are entwined. What affects the soul affects the spirit. If the soul is saddened, so shall his spirit too. But at the age of 130 years, Jacob, having been dealt with in all angles of life was not only transformed but also grown unto maturity. Therefore, his spirit was revived. Meaning his soul's feelings had nothing to do with what his spirit felt. His soul and spirit were distinctly divided (Heb. 4:12), thereby manifesting his maturity in life.

Then he responded with much gravity, "It is enough." Had he not grown unto maturity he would have asked a thousand and one questions, reasoning, doubting, confirming, clarifying so on and so forth. However, his solemn response was sober and mature, manifesting and emanating the scent of maturity, a sweet fragrance of honorable dignity.

This morning as I read these verses, the Lord impressed me deeply of how much I need to grow in life and be mature. I know where I stand and dare not trumpet any noisy-empty-vain fantasy. I just look to the Lord for more grace, more opportunity to be transformed and ultimately be matured according to His heart's desire. I still have a long way to go, before I sleep. Lord, have mercy on me. Lord, grow in me.

Assurance of God- "Surely"

Surely goodness and loving-kindness 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

This morning the Lord spoke an instant word in my time with Him. "Surely", meaning 100% guaranteed by God Himself that goodness and loving-kindness will follow me! What a promise! No matter what happens under the sun, God has said, "surely" His goodness will follow me. Not for a moment nor a season, but "all the days" of my life! The best and most trustworthy health and life-insurance from the company of God. What an encouraging word! Better than any best thing the world can ever provide. His word is sure and steadfast. I was so filled with joy receiving such a word from the Lord. My faith increased a lot more. Lord, thank You for Your assuring promise.

Oftentimes, the enemy and the fallen mind worries for things of this world in a genuine and in the most human way robbing me of my joy. Oftentimes, I too gave heed to such genuine truthful lies. But the Lord has thus said, "surely." Worry should no longer be my worry. Surely, the Lord will take care of them all. I am so happy for the Lord's assuring promise that cannot fail. Hallelujah!

And His assurance is for me to dwell in His house forever, in Christ and in the church. The devil's deviating tactics shall no longer hold. The Lord's assurance for goodness and loving-kindness is for me to dwell in Christ in the church-life on this earth and continue unto the New Jerusalem. O life is really worth living. What a blessing to be a christian! And much more a blessing to be recovered into the proper church life.

Blessed Being With Jehovah

And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he became a prosperous man... Jehovah was with him and that Jehovah caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found favor in his sight.. Jehovah was with Joseph; and He extended kindness to him and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer...Jehovah was with him; and whatever he did, Jehovah caused it to prosper.

Genesis 39:2,3,4,21,23.

Jehovah was with Joseph and the issue was blessing. No matter whatever or whoever did to him, as long as Jehovah was with him everything was a blessing. To Jehovah God, people, matters or circumstances are all channels of blessing. He uses even evil people to bless His chosen ones. Oh what a God He indeed is and will always be?

The Lord reminded me as I read these verses and mused upon them that all that I need is He Himself. As long as He is with me, everything is a blessing. No evil can any evil intends on me, as even evil is used for good. Oh the presence of Jehovah! The scent of joy no words can describe what the Lord gives to me. As usual, as I went out to enjoy my prayer-walk, though I intended to bring matters to Him for prayer, all that I got back in return was the joy of the Lord. Oh the joy of the Lord! So sweet and so enjoyable.

Spending time with my family, its all joy. Everything around me all looks beautiful. "Lord, thank you for all your blessings. May I ever be with Thee and Thou with me as Thou in me. Thy presence is all I need."

Ten Years Then And Now

An Experience of a Visit to Chennai Where I was a Student Ten Years Ago
Ten years ago as a student of MCC, Tambaram then, I used to spend most evening to go before the presence of the Lord and enjoyed His instant speaking and guiding on various issues of life. Ten years after, now many things have changed, still that sweet presence of the Lord in prayer not only remains the same but became sweeter and sweeter, even deeper and deeper. Reflecting back in prayer, I thanked the Lord for all His faithfulness.
The Lord has been directing me in every detail of my life, living and service. Ten years ago I was a student seeker of the truth, hungering and thirsting, yet nothing of my spiritual pursuit completely satisfied me. I was introduced to the ministry books and even brought to visit the then book room, and I could still vividly remembered purchasing ministry books howevermuch my finance could managed then. Now, having been satisfied with the healthy teaching of the Word and even sovereignly arranged by the Lord to serve in the ministry literature I look forward to the Lord for more furtherance of the ministry.
Ten years ago, the literature was housed in a humble rented place, and ten years after, now I do not agree to see the same though there has been multiplication in serving ones and services. I pray in faith to the Lord for the provision of all the things needed for the operation of the ministry literature, including practical needs of offices, warehouses and serving ones' lodges. It was indeed such a release to release these burdens before the Lord. Though these sounds physical nevertheless they are all for the spiritual purpose of preparing and filling up Joseph's warehouse as food supply station to India and its subcontinent. The confirmation of such prayer was instanteneous as it was a prayer out of the Lord's heart. I was deeply confirmed within that the Lord has answered the prayer and in time, it will be done. I told the Lord, "I Believe", and the response was ,"According to your faith it will be done!"

According To Your Faith

For she said within herself, If only I touch His garment, I will be healed. And Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, Take courage, daughter; your faith has helaed you. And the women was healed from that hour.......According to your faith, let it be done to you.

Matthew 9:21,22,27b.

What a record! The Lord opened my eyes afresh this morning as I was on the Word. Faith is not a merely doctrine to preach on, it is a reality to experience. What is impossible is truly possible with the Lord for those who believe. Lord I believe! Help my unbelieve if I ever or slighly doubt your Word.

As I was praying and considering the Lord's work assigned to me within my capacity things seems tough and impossible. The plans are good, but the way to accomplished? At this juncture the Lord spoke to me the verses, "If only I believe.... my faith in the Lord will make a way for the Lord to accomplish it." And He does according to our faith. Yes, according to my faith. Lord, strengthen my faith.

The need is great, be it spiritual or physical. Something spiritual also covers something practical. If practical human affairs are not met, spiritual needs cannot be met either. As much as the Lord is divine yet human, so much more we are human yet divine. The divine life we recieved on regeneration does in no way annul the physical life nor its existences. Rather, the more divinity we possess the more human we will be. Otherwise it would be awefully mysterious leading to extremism.

Have faith in God for all spiritual or physical needs. His supplying our physical needs is for the spiritual purpose. His caring for us is His caring for Himself, for in us He moves and lives and does things to fulfil His purpose. Our existence is for Him, our welfare is for Him, and everything pertaining us pertains Him too. He lives in us, through us, for Him. So trust in God for all affairs of life, He cares and ever will. Believe and have faith, and it will be done.

Faith is Christ Himself inwrought into us, the believers, to believe into Him and for His will to be done on the earth. It is a gift of God yet to be treasured and exercised for the Lord's purpose. Such faith is already in the Body of Christ. When one joins himself to the Lord and His Body, he is positioned rightly to receive the heavenly blessings in whatever form. And the goal of such blessings of faith is to build up the Body of Christ. Let us have faith in God, and let us be always one with the Body to receive the heavenly blessings in faith.