First of All, Pray

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men;

1 Timothy 2:1

In the work of the the Lord, we must believe in the word of God. We work according to His word. Only when He says, then we obey; whatever He says will always be fulfilled. We must obey and believe in His word. Then it is He who initiates, executes and accomplishes. We are just His channels.

In this regard, we must, first of all, pray. Pray to be one with the Lord. Pray into Him that He may pray in our prayer, which is His will. Any work carried out without thorough prayer is doubtfully of God. No wonder, many Christian works have been wasted. There is a need for more and more prayer. 

The burden today is heavy, the need is great but what we can do is nothing. Therefore, we must pray and pray. Not talk about prayer, or preach on prayer, but PRAY and PRAY. As we pray in oneness with the Lord and the Body, the Lord will accomplish His will through us.

Before initiating anything for the Lord, our utmost urgent responsibility is to first of all pray. In small and big things, we must pray. In things related to the work of God, to the church or family matter or personal matters, we must first of all pray. And let the Lord work in us first and through us.

Twenty and Above

From twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go forth for military service..

Numbers 1:3

Twenty and above is the requirement to be recruited into God's army, signifying that only matured persons are qualified to fight for God as God's army. The clause "twenty years old an upward" means a lot. To be a part of God's army, one has to grow in life. No baby boy or childish children or teeny teens are qualified. One has to grow in life to be twenty, mature, strong and stable.

Physically one may be twenty and above but spiritually, possibly be just babe. Even such are not qualified. Physical maturity does not guarantee, even less warranty, spiritual maturity. Therefore, to be able to  be a part of God's army one must be matured physically and spiritually.

Spiritually strong in spirit and mature in the divine life: The real significance of Twenty and Above is to be spiritually strong in spirit and mature in the divine life. This reminds me of my need to exercise my spirit daily and moment by moment and pursue Christ to enjoy Him and grow in the divine life, even unto maturity, through all circumstances and means. 

When the Lord spoke to me this matter in a fellowship two weeks ago, I was so convicted of my slowness in growth. It was and has been my heart's desire to grow in the Lord, day by day. Perhaps, there are parasites  that hinder my growth, these needs to be dealt with to allow God to grow freely and fruitfully.

Lord, grow in me.

8. Amen!—The growth in life!
   There’s nothing that Your life can’t do;
   Our every part renew.
   We’ll make it, we’ll make it just by You.
     Lord Jesus, grow in us.
• Lord Jesus, grow in us.
• 
  
• Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/1132#ixzz2G2UKhHGu

Joint Prayer

"Prayer" per se is so common among men who believed into God, whichever religion. However, the real significance of prayer is hardly realised even among those prayerful ones. Focusing on the Christian's prayer, even many including me, the understanding of the depth of prayer is so shallow, in fact, too shallow. No wonder, many prayers were never answered. Even if so, most would be out of God's mercy, not according to His heart's delight.

Jude 20 But you, beloved, building up yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. A genuine prayer is a prayer in the Holy Spirit; which involves God as the Holy Spirit praying through the one who prays.

Ephesians 6:18 By means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints.A genuine prayer is a prayer in spirit. This is our regenerated spirit, indwelt by the Spirit of God, the mingled spirit — the spirit that is our spirit mingled with God's Spirit.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. A genuine prayer is a prayer in the Spirit with our spirit; a mingled prayer; the source and the means pray together for the goal of the source.

1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. A genuine prayer is a joint prayer, God and man, praying together in one spirit.

Putting all these verse together, a genuine prayer is a prayer in which God as the source, initiator of prayer, is praying through the praying one, as the means, channel, praying the prayer that is absolutely of God, in God, for God, in oneness with the praying one. Such prayers is always the will of God echoed by man on earth for the fulfillment of God's will. And will always be answered. This kind of prayer is a "joint prayer." God and man praying together as one. 

This reminds me of my need to be in spirit in prayer, not praying from my mind, nor emotion, nor will, but in spirit. Exercising my spirit in prayer to pray God's prayer for God's purpose. A joint prayer, a genuine prayer, of God, through God-man, for God.

Bochim

Then the angel of Jehovah went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, I caused you to go up out  from Egypt, and I brought you into the land that I swore to your fathers. 

And I said, I will never break My covenant with you, And you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars. 

But you did not listen to My voice. What is this that you have done? Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they will be like thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.

Judges 2:1-3

As I was reading this portion of the word, the Lord's light dawned on me. He promised victory over the enemy and charged to fulfill something. However, when the promises were fulfilled yet the charges were not carried out, the very act of disobedience nullified God's blessing and turned them into curses.

In a Christian's life, the Lord mercifully pardons all sins and wants him to do away with anything He hates. If this clearance of the past or restitution or reconciliation were not carried out properly and thoroughly, the very undealt sins--matters, persons or things will  become  "thorns," curses. Then, instead of enjoying God's blessings, there will be weeping over and of undealt sins. This is the significance of Bochim, which means weeping. 

This revelation struck me deeply. Immediately I prayed that the Lord may mercifully grace me to deal with anything His finger points to, without any delay. Out of this came a poem:

In obedience, be absolute

In dealing, be thorough

In loivng, be whole hearted

In trusting, be doubtless

In discipline, be strict

In listening, be attentive

In understanding, be crystal clear

In executing, be exact

Twelve Twelve Twelve (12/12/12)

In my time with the Lord, cloud of confusion engulfed me; I didn't know why. Many thoughts-- the darts of the devil in darkness, seemingly, all aimed at my soul. I pondered over, I was fully in my soul when I should have been in my spirit. My prayer and prayer time was like a blind man dashing  black darts in darkness, hitting nowhere with nothing. 

In the midst, I exercised my spirit and touched the Lord, the Lord touched me in return. I confessed my sins and failures, and repented of my ungodly living and Christ-less being. Then, my understanding became very clear. On pure reason with clear mind, all these darkness were the attacks of the enemy, all were baseless, illogical and full of self-deceit. There was nothing wrong, of what I assumed were wrong. I became very clear; and the cloud of confusion left me at that instant. Then, I just praised the Lord! 

The next day, in fellowship with a brother (RC), he touched this matter of prayer and exactly described a matter which actually happened to me the night before. Praise the Lord for fellowship in the Body. The Lord speaks through the members. O what a release to exercise our spirit all the time! Otherwise, even soulful prayer is just the devil's religious tool to put people in darkness. Subjective experience of the objective truth is a great deliverance. 

After that prayer, I was fully released, I enjoyed the presence of God, and felt very happy. The burdens that burdened me were no burden at all. To rest in the Lord is a real rest, even in prayer. Later, I had a good rest and peace, and the next day morning a hymn learned from my childhood days came ringing and  I hummed it, enjoying the Lord through the hymn.

Guide me, O Thou gracious Savior 

Pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but Thou art mighty,

Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand;

Bread of heaven,

Feed me till I want no more;

Bread of heaven,

Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,

Whence the healing waters flow;

Let the fiery, cloudy pillar

Lead me all my journey through;

Strong Deliv’rer,

Be Thou still my strength and shield;

Strong Deliv’rer,

Be Thou still my strength and shield.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/391#ixzz2FaM30qXY

The One New Man

Last weekend we had a blending for North India and the speaking of the Lord was on the one new man. I've heard this before, and had spoken of the same a number of times. But one thing the Lord opened my eyes on was the matter of the one new man; in this one new man there is only one Person, Christ Himself.

Col. 3:10a, 11b " the new man....Christ is all and in all." I have been of the understanding that amidst the many member of the Body from all nations, tribes and tongues, there is Christ; and this Christ among all is the one new man. But the clear revelation is, all the nations, tribes and tongues of the natural man reduces to nothing; all social, economical, religious or political status reduces to nothing; and what remains is the all-inclusive Christ and there is no room for any person other than Christ; only Christ is the Person living and operating; this is the one new man! And the goal of the Lord's recovery is to bring forth the one new man.

I am saved, in the church life for the one new man. This is the eternal purpose of God! My life, my family, my  service, my education and my all is for the one new man. Otherwise, my focus need to be adjusted.

Lord, gain me for the one new man; your eternal purpose and heart's desire. Amen.

Valley of Achor

Joshua 7: 26  The they erected over him(Achan) a great heap of stones, which is there to this day; and Jehovah turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.

Achor - meaning  trouble in Hebrew, is the name of a valley in the vicinity of Jericho.

A week  ago, on my train trip to Chandigarh for propagating the gospel of the Kingdom, I was reading the Word; the Lord impressed me very deeply concerning the Valley of Achor. How did this come about? The origin of this phrase is note worthy and there are many spiritual lessons to learn!

Unfaithful to God’s Word

In chapter  6 of Joshua, Joshua strictly followed the command of Jehovah and conquered Jericho; in chapter 7 verse 1, But the children of Israel acted unfaithfully in that which was devoted to destruction, for Achan the son of Carmi,... took that which was devoted to destruction; and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the children of Israel. 

Losing God’s Presence and Being Defeated

Later, because of this sin, the Israelite lost the presence of God, so Joshua had to scheme and plan according to his past experiences; by sending spies, but did not asked Jehovah. Once he lost God's presence mostly due to sin, big or small, the Lord's presence would not come again until the very sin was dealt with.Ignorant of the losing of God' presence, Joshua sent forth 3000 men, underestimating the enemy and not trusting in Jehovah. The result was obvious-- but they fled before the men of Ai, v.4b- a shameful defeat!

God’s Sovereignty Even in Our Failure Bringing in Repentance

However, God was sovereign even in our failure. Though God allowed us to pass through the valley of darkness and death, He nevertheless loved us and turned the failure into blessing by teaching lessons of life that needed to be learned.

This failure led Joshua to fell to the ground upon his face before the Ark of Jehovah until evening v.6. Then, Jehovah replied, "Israel had sinned." v. 11a.

Need for Sanctification by Dealing with Sins

After learning lesson of life, Joshua did the sanctification work, Rise up, sanctify the people, v.13. Then the person who committed the sin of disobedience by taking something devoted to destruction, a mantle of Shinar and two hundreds shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them, v.21. Achan and his family and everything he had, or, connected to him, were all brought to the Valley of Achor. And all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire when they stoned them with stones,v25b. Then and only then, Jehovah turned from the fierceness of His anger, v.26b.

The Sin Committed was Covetousness—Greed, Lust for Mammon, Basically the Love of the World

“ a mantle of Shinar and two hundreds shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels,” v.21  were quite a treasure. No wonder, Achan coveted them. Though he knew these were devoted for destruction, his greed and lust for the world overcame him to disobey what Jehovah had commanded, and his sin led to the failure of the whole house of Israel. 

Warning to all Christian: "Do not love the world nor the things in the world."  1 John 2 :15.  For the love of money is a root of all evils, because of which some, aspiring after money, have been led away from the faith and pierced themselves through with many pains. 1 Timothy 6:10. 
And the best way not to love the world is to love the Lord Jesus Christ and be filled with His love.

God’s Presence Restored after Dealing with Sins

After this dealing with sin, Jehovah promised them victory over Ai, and instructed them how they should fight by giving them specific strategies of war, and then the victory over Ai was won.

The Valley of Achor was such a revelation to me. This is my timely need; never to take God’s presence for granted and being faithful to heed to His Word and dealing with sins in every possible way.