Ichabod

Ichabod means no glory.

And she named the child Ichabod, meaning, the glory has departed from Israel, because the Ark of God had been taken...1 Samuel 4:21

The sinfulness of Eli's son, Hophni and Phinehas, God could no longer tolerate. Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know Jehovah-v12. Therefore, God judged the two black shepherds and both were killed by the Philistines. God could have protected them as they were serving priests in the temple of God, instead He allowed them to be killed. This bad news later led to the death of Eli himself and Phinehas's wife right after bearing a son. And a son was born, rightly name, ICHABOD, no glory. It was a shame and defeat to the Israelites. Therefore, Jehovah God did away with the degraded and rotten Aaronic priesthood, and found an alternative, through Samuel.

As I was reading this portion of the Word, the Lord enlightened me very much. And I have to solemnly come before the Lord and consider. As serving ones, is my life, living and conduct before God and man, pleasing to the Lord? Am I loose, lethargic and degraded in my service? Am I serving out of the over flow of the divine life, out of the enjoyment of the Lord? 

True indeed are these solemn warnings. God desires to express Himself through man. His expression is His glory. If there is no expression of God in our living or service, we are degraded. We need to repent and turn to the Lord to be revived in spirit and vitalised. Otherwise, we might face the fate of Eli's son. The Lord forbid that this should happen among the saints. Instead, let there be revival among us and the saints. And let there be God's glory manifested among the saints in the churches!

A classical hymn by Albert Midlane on Revival reminds me of my need for such.

Revive Thy work, O Lord!
  While here to Thee we bow;
Descend, O gracious Lord, descend!
  Oh, come, and bless us now!
Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/797#ixzz2HfTAjQRc

However, the real revival is from within by living a god-man life in the normal church-life and practising  the God-ordained way. Being renewed every morning  and revived everyday is the key to experience the new revival, not merely for personal growth, but much more for the building up o the Body of Christ. 

Lord renew us every moment and revive us every day!

Good Testimony

Ruth was a Moabites widow, from the cursed tribe of Israel, however, she had a good testimony and ultimately participated in keeping the line in humanity to bring Christ forth out of eternity into time. My reading of this story was enlightened by the Lord to see a very important matter in my human living, to have a good testimony. For, there are conditions that qualifies God's usage for such. Ruth had a good testimony and she was thus used and blessed by God.

All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, as well as how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people whom you did not know before. May Jehovah recompense your works, and may you have a full reward from Jehovah the god of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. 

Ruth 2;11,12

When she was instructed, she dis not express nor had any opinion. She just obeyed her mother-in-law. "All that you say, I will do." - 3:5. And did exactly as she was told to do. No wonder, Boaz married her, inspite of her black background. And no wonder, God could use her to bring forth the Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, if we have to bring forth something of Christ, apart from just having the life of  Christ as mere Christian we must also have proper living, proper testimony before God and men; a good testimony, that the Lord can use for the impartation of Himself to others. In many cases, action speaks louder then words. Our living and conduct as Christians in the midst of sinful, evil and worldly society must be the glad tidings for others to read the message of Christ; we must all be living Bible and talking Bible and walking Bible and working Bible. A good testimony to all, for the gospel, for the church and for god Himself. Yes, a good testimony.

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, was very bold and was used by the Lord for His move after the day of Pentecost. This very Peter was the one who was a "chicken" who denied the Lord thrice. But after being filled with the Holy Spirit he was a "lion", so bold to testify of the resurrected and ascended Christ. 

Peter and John were uneducated and laymen, but had been with Jesus (v.13). That made all the difference! Educationally or physically, men of no repute, but when with Jesus and been filled with the Holy Spirit, notable signs were manifested which no men could deny (v.16) as they had spoken and repeated the very words and works of Christ which they had seen and heard (v.20) issuing in the glorification of the source of all their works, God Himself (v.21) which led to the church praise and prayer, and became the very essence of the believers' oneness (v.32) resulting in the a normal healthy church-life where there was the filling of the Holy Spirit, the preaching of the Word, the testimonies of God's work, and the mutual care for one another's need--the sharing of God's blessings among all saints.

What a blessing to see this! What had happened can happen again. Only with one condition, "by being filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:4 says, "..they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues.." 4:31 "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness" proving that when one is filled with the Holy Spirit, there are different manifestations, all for the church life, for the propagating and spreading of the gospel of the Kingdom.

This was the word I enjoyed as I read the word in a train journey last Thursday. Lord, keep me ever filled with your Holy Spirit.

Amidst the Masses

The presence of the Lord is everywhere the person is, with the exercised spirit. Last Thursday I was in a busy crowded New Delhi railway station. I arrived well before the scheduled train time. The platform was so disordered. On my right side were quarrel-some goods loader, fighting for which cargo bags to load first into the cargo train bogie. On my front were hapless passengers waiting for train, lying down on the floor on a bed make-shift. On my left were groups of passengers with luggage. There I was, amidst the masses.

Amidst the masses I was contacting the Lord in my spirit. The presence of the Lord was so sweet that the outward "disturbances" were music to my ear, tuning me to my spirit. The Lord as the Spirit filled me, and burdens upon burdens were released, very specifically of my own family; for the restoration and recovery of their normal function in the church life. The time spent was so enjoyable that I didn't notice the passage of time. Soon my train arrived and I boarded it, heading for Chandigarh for the preparatory work for the Gospel preaching and the raising up of the church.

Quite time was what most Christian practised, but even in the midst of bustling noises of all sorts, from announcement via loud speakers, untamed tongue shoutings, train horns sound, etc... one can hear the voice of the Lord by turning to the spirit, exercising the spirit, enjoying the Lord. There should be no excuses based on outward circumstances, though outward things does matter, but most importantly is the exercise of the spirit, calling upon the Name of the Lord, touching the Lord and being touched by the Lord. Such must be the experience of every normal Christian. Apart from these, a Christian life may out-rightly be just religious with many do's and dont's. 

Lord Jesus, may we always live in the spirit.

Lifted Up!

This morning as we pursued the Life-Study of John in our small group, the Lord shone on me with the matter of "lifted up."

The Son of Man was lifted up as was the brass serpent not only to deal with sin, but also to deal with the serpent. John 12:31-32 indicates that when the Son of Man was lifted up, the ruler of this world, the Devil, was judged and cast out. Christ was not only crucified--He was lifted up. In His being lifted up, the serpent was exposed, judged, and cast out. The serpent, the Devil, was judged and cast out by Jesus' being lifted up...Thus, Jesus was lifted up for the judging and casting out of the Devil.

The Lord Jesus was lifted up for the sinners' sin (8:28). 

Life-Study of John, Message 19

Hallelujah the Lord was not only crucified for our sin and sins, but also lifted up to expose and judge the very serpent behind the sin and sins. And even to cast him out!

Because of this serpent, all have become corrupted and sinful. Who is without sin? No one. Who can deliver man from sin and sins? Even the best religion, the highest teaching, cannot save man from sin. All have sinned and all are under the bondage of Satan, the serpent, therefore all are in sin, blindness and death. To solve this problem God the Creator became a man, to save man from sin, blindness and death, and the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified and lifted up to undo all the works of Satan.As we fellowshipped on this matter, we rejoiced to sing Hymn 82,

O how I love Him! How I adore Him!

My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!

The great Creator became my Savior,

  And all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/82#ixzz2Gn2Cjk4q

2013

With sobriety and sincerity, with thanksgiving and prayer, as the church in Gurgaon, we gathered for prayer, fellowshiping on the basics of Christian life for the church life. The Lord's presence was so dear, the prayers were so strong and full of Spirit. Such was how we ended our 2012. 

Counting not on what have gone by, but looking forward for more growth in the divine life, we, a small number congregate for a year end thanksgiving prayer fellowship. The testimonies of the saints' experience and enjoyment were so marvelous. Through ups and downs, through stormy sea and thunderous wind, the saints have been learning to take Christ as their person and living; growing from one degree to another degree. That was marvelous.

As for me too, I was deeply into prayer, communing with the Lord, enjoying His presence and hearing His voice. This day has been significant at least in three matters: it is the day of my spiritual birth, that transpired 15 years ago in 1997 on the same day; it is also the day the Lord called me for His service 10 years ago in 2002 and it is also the day, the Lord fully cleared the cloud of confusion from within and without concerning the Lord's recovery. In the principle of incarnation, this day means so much to me; as a remembrance of the mercy and goodness of the Lord; I would offer up prayers of thanksgiving and a renewed consecration, seeking for the Lord more intimately.

The Lord was faithful to speak as the still small voice; concerning my Christian life and living, my service in Him, with Him, for Him, and the burden related to the church. Thank the Lord for His speaking. To me, this is the greatest blessing; the presence of the Lord, the speaking of the Lord, the very God Himself. That's how I began my year.

Acts 3:20.. seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord..

The Greatest Blessing

Many Christians, and people in general, always expect blessing(s). Blessing as many understand is mostly prosperity or physical blessings. However, the real blessing is not the blessing in itself. Every genuine blessing is from God, nevertheless, the blessings from God are not even the real blessing. The real blessing is God Himself, the One who bless as the blessing.

Counting blessings with physical scale is a real deception. Even running after physical or psychological  prosperity as blessing is a deception. They are all mammon, which is directly against God, and are in tune with the devil. 

Matthew 6:24, ..You cannot serve God and mammon. 

Mammon: An Aramaic word signifying wealth, riches. Mammon stands in opposition to God, indicating that wealth, or riches, is the opponent of God, robbing God's people of their service to Him. http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=249

The real blessing is God Himself. The Blesser of the blessings. When He blessed, we are blessed. One of the most significant tests of being blessed by God is the presence of God in our daily living. Where God is, there His presence is, His anointing is. When one is blessed, he is always joyful and fully content, and God is His satisfaction. Outwardly, nothing physical may be there to measure the blessing, but inwardly he has God's presence. Anyone with the slightest sense of discernment will sense the presence of God in Him. When he speaks, it is God speaking in and through Him, full of the riches of the Word, the flow of life, and the sweet anointing of the Spirit. This is the blessing.

Last Lord's day, our group meeting was such. The presence of the Lord was so sweet, the anointing so strong and the speaking so striking. That was the experience of God's blessing.

Children of God today should seek for the Lord's presence in every matter. Otherwise, all is vanity. We should live a life in God, in His presence day by day. Seek God, the greatest blessing in the universe.