The Paradox

This morning I was reading the portion on David's account, when he rested from war and fell into the sin of adultery and murder in 2 Samuel 11. The greatest sin he committed was when he was exalted as a king and while in a peaceful situation. Prior to this, he was running for his life from pillar to post. At such time of trials and hardships he experienced the Lord a lot and trusted in Jehovah for any decision he would make. But when, that time of trials was over and the day dawned for him, and everything seemed to be at peace and rest, he committed the biggest of blunders. 

Similarly in my case too, when things are trying and trials pivoting I was very very much exercised in my spirit and in my living, and trusted the Lord a lot. But when things are all "cool" and "fine" and seeming peaceful and at rest, often its like the flesh let loose. The real peace is the inward peace in the Lord when all of outside is in utter disorder.

God is sovereingly wise in that He cause His beloved to go through trials and temptations at times. I experienced the Lord more during such times, but I do not pray for such trials either. Let the Lord in His time allow for perfecting me. Now I could understand why the early believers and apostles had to go through so much trials. The more the fire of trials, the stronger they become and the word multiplied even faster. What a misunderstanding and blindness would it be if Christian expects a Christian life to be a bed of roses? Quite contrarily, it should be a narrow way infested with thorns to be tread upon barefooted.

Cynically, this sounds paradoxically true, and it is, indeed. For though we are in the world, we are not of this world. This is a sure sign that we should not cast any hope on this earth and not put any trust on anything in the world but in God and in Him alone.

Serving the Lord as a Slave

Serving the Lord as a slave with all humility and tears and trials which came upon me by the plots of the Jews; Acts 20:19

Serving the Lord as a Slave: The word "slave" is mostly connoted with "serving the Lord." in the New Testament. In Romans 1:1, Paul wrote about himself as a slave of Christ Jesus. In fact, he was such a one, so am I. The Recovery Version Bible renders me much help in my study of the Word.

1² A slave, according to ancient custom and law, was one who was purchased by his master and over whom his master had absolute rights, even to the extent of terminating his life. Paul was such a slave of Christ. Verbs formed from this word are used several times throughout this book. One is translated serve as a slave in 6:6 and serve in 7:6, 25; 9:12; 12:11; 14:18; and 16:18. Another is translated enslaved in 6:18, 22. The noun slavery, from the same root as slave, is used in 8:15, 21.

Paul's use of this term indicates that he was not a self-appointed apostle or one hired by the Lord; rather, he was one purchased to serve God and minister to His people, not in the natural life but in the regenerated life (see Exo. 12:44; 21:6; note 26¹ in Matt. 20; note 14³ inMatt. 25; and note 17¹ in Gal. 6).

http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=3653

This reminds me again and again of the Lord's calling and as such a called one, as far as my service and status is concerned, I am indeed, just a slave. Though I am a child of God by regeneration, and tiled "brother" but in service I am a purchase "slave" of the Lord Jesus Christ. A slave purchased to serve God and minister to His people. As such, what right do I have? Except to be righteously treated as a slave! 

Though the saints love me as a brother and treated me well as fitting as Christian brothers, often, I am afraid, may the Lord cover me, I am being treated above what I really deserve as a slave. Though I have no right to demand nor reject what and how the saints in love have treated me, I bow my knee in humility before the Lord that He may cover me and preserve me from any natural element and loopholes for the enemy's attack, when the saints in love have given me the best of hospitality which I never deserved.  I commit all to the Lord's wise arrangement.

As a slave, I must faithfully serve my Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, and what He deemed best for me concerning any matter, praise and glory be to His wise bestowment. With the realisation of this fact, the Lord is so good to me and so are the saints. I have no complains nor any suggestions for any betterment of the way I am being treated; no ground for jeaslousy nor pride nor envy. The Lord is sovereignly good to His slave.

Lord, may I ever echo what Paul had written long before, "Serving the Lord as a slave with all humility and tears and trials ...." Acts 20:19

Jehovah's Preservation

And Jehovah preserved David wherever he went. 2 Sam 8:6b,14b.

Jehovah's preservation kept David from being harmed and killed, even the anointed king of Israel could do nothing. This verse impressed me deeply. The Lord's preservation is all that kept David all the while and this is all that I need too.

These days as I have been coordinating with the saints in the Body for the increase and expansion of His kingdom, the invisible spiritual battle is fierce. Attacks from all angle at times seem to thwart the onward path  of victory, however, the fact is, the battle is being fought in victory, not for victory but a display of the victory accomplished by the Lord. 

Participating in propagation, raising up churches and shepherding the saints are all done in the Lord and in His preservation. Otherwise I sure would faint and become dry by now. However, quite contrary to what factually could have been, the Lord's might and strength and the Spirit's power operating in me supplied me richly. I enjoyed the divine dispensing through the divine dispensing to the saints. Physically and psychologically I sure would have fainted, measuring the quantum of work load being carried out literally and  physically, but the Lord's grace in His preservation preserves me and keeps me going on and on. Praise the Lord!

Moreover, in the Body of Christ, all the members function in a coordinated way and the enemy has no ground in the Body-life for no one member bears all or most, but each according to the portion ordained by the Lord. Hallelujah! This is what I have been experiencing.

Lord, continually preserve me in the Body, wherever I go and whatever I do, in coordination with the Body; in oneness with one another and with You.

Perez-uzzah

Perez-uzzah means the breaking forth on Uzzah.

David, a man after God's own heart, took care of God's habitation on earth. And while bringing back the Ark of God out of the house of Abinadab and on the way at Nachon's threshing floor, the ox carrying the Ark stumbled. To prevent the Ark from falling Uzzah reached out for the Ark, but  God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the Ark of God. 2 Samuel 6:1-7

And David was angry because Jehovah had broken forth with an outburst upon Uzzah; and that place had been called  Perez-uzzah to this day-v.8

1. Influence  of the Gentiles : 

According to God's ordination the Ark of God should have been borne by the Levites, but they carried the Ark with an oxen cart which was the way of the Philistines. A defilement and contamination in service to God.

2. Natural Goodness is Evil in God's Sight :

Under God's sovereignty the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to stop the Ark from falling, but God did not need man's natural goodness in caring for His things, something divine.

In our service to God there is a need to be purged from all leaven of the world, religion and society. Our way of serving God should be as ordained by God. And our natural zeal to serve God should be dealt with, for God would not tolerate anything natural. In our service to God, we must be crucified in our old and natural man that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit according to His ordination. 

Lord, deal with me; my intention, my being that I may offer nothing leaven and that my service may be in spirit, in resurrection as a sweet fragrance to you.

Brook Besor

And David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind who were too exhausted to cross over the brook Besor. 1 Samuel 30:10

David was deeply distressed as the Amalekites took captives of his people including his wives, and the blame was on him of the defeat of the enemy. However, David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God, v.6. and selected 600 men to fight against his enemy, however, at Brook Besor 200 were too exhausted and stayed behind. Later the battle was won and David came to meet them at Brook Besor. But all the wicked and worthless men suggested that those who did not go to war would not enjoy the spoil of the victory v.22. But David's wise response was, "For as his share is he who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike." v.24 

The Lord enlightened me in this portion of the word:

1. Trust the Lord, come what may: A very distressing background of defeat from the enemy and condemnation from his own people and the loss of his very dear wives; David trusted the Lord and strengthened himself in Jehovah, then inquired of the Lord if he should pursue after his enemy to which the Lord affirmed and he defeated his enemy and recovered all what were lost.

2. Not depending what one had: One third of his army were exhausted and stayed back at brook Besor, nevertheless, he continued pursuing his enemy trusting in God, and he won the victory and recovered all that was lost.

3. Compassionate, large hearted and righteous in the principle of the Body : David wisely distributed the spoil of the victory to all alike, to those who went for war and to those who stayed back at the brook Besor. For the victory was not only of those  who fought the battle but also of those who were a part of the army.

Testimony

Coordination in the Body in one accord commands the Lord's blessing. 

On the 6th of Feb 2013, while we were in a gospel meeting, a brother nudged me to  give a testimony of how I received the Lord as there were new believers and gentiles in the meeting. Without a moment of thought I obeyed, and as I stood to testify when, how and where the Lord saved me, I experienced the Spirit's filling like a rushing wind. Every word or sentence I testified was strongly attested with the Lord's anointing and became a testimony in itself. 

The testimony covered the experience of the Lord in His convicting me of sins and hypocrisy while on my knees repenting, and the word in Matthew 13 concerning the rocky soil of hidden sins, and the forgiveness of God by virtue of the Lord's precious shed blood and His assurance of salvation by the joy of His inward presence and the CHANGE and transformation that followed suit inwardly and outwardly with a real life testimony of two incidents of deliverance from worldly music and romantic affairs were so strong, and as I testified, the Lord led me to turn the whole thing to a gospel message. Then I turned to the gospel friends and asked them if the would like to experience the very Jesus I have been experiencing, they were so subdued and open to receive the Lord, and agreed to the query. The Lord further led me to let them kneel with me on the floor and prayed the sinners' prayer, in Hindi; confessing and believing into the Lord Jesus Christ to receive Him as their Savior and only God, which they willing did. And further on, to be baptised into the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, into the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, which also they willing did. Such was the impact of the Spirit's move that non can deny. All these is the answer to the Body's prayer and commanded blessing upon the coordination of brothers serving in one accord.

Lord, keep us in You ever;  in oneness with You and Your Body as Your testimony.

The Lord's Presence

The Joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10

It was barely a week ago, while propagating in Chandigarh with the saints from FTTND and FTTA, that the Lord was answering the prayer of the Body, in the Body, for the Body, that we all felt the strong move of the Holy Spirit, issuing inwardly in our being filled with the Spirit and outwardly in the preaching of the gospel bringing people to salvation and baptising them everyday. Besides, the coordination among all was so sweet and the sovereign arrangement of God in all outward physical environment was aptly conducive for the announcing of the resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ as the gospel, all these confirmed the work of the Lord in His heavenly ministry through the members of His Body on the earth. The set goals were more than fulfilled, proving Himself again His faithfulness in His works, time and again. Though the enemy hates His move and did his funny stunts here a little there a little, he fought himself a losing battle as the victory was already won long before the battle began. Yes, to the Lord's work, what can we say, but "Amen" with a triumphal sounding "Halleluijahs!"

Particularly, I experienced the Lord intimately a lot. One night the Lord's presence filled me so much so that I woke up to intimately fellowship with the Lord throughout the night. His presence engulfed me, and while responding to His intimate visit, He confirmed His faithfulness in that He would fulfill in time everything He has promised or burdened me concerning His work. That was indeed a friend fellowshipping with a friend. O how sweet the presence of the Lord!

In every step, in every decision, the timely leading of the Lord is marvelous and His leading corresponds with the leading in the Body. This, not for my personal spirituality, but for me to be blended and builded up in the Body with other members. O the joy of the Lord. The Joy of the Lord, indeed, is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10