In Christ

A couple weeks have passed since I have been delving on the mysterious phrase, "In Christ." This simple phrase spans the whole Bible and the whole divine revelation. It has been so frequently used by many Christians that it so become so common to the point of nullifying its real significance. Today, to many among believers, its a reflex action of the mouth to utter this, yet far far away from its reality.

"In Christ" signifies one is in Christ. Christ today is in every believers' spirit, but how about every believers in Christ? The problem today is not that Christ is not in the believers, He is very much there since regeneration. But to many, He is just locked up in their spirits without any freedom. Instead of He taking control, the soul or even the flesh of the believers is mostly the ruler and the person. So is the deficiency in many Christians' lives and living. I, not an exception.

When my Bible reading portion was on dealing with the flesh and walking by the Spirit as in Galatians 5:16-26, I could not easily proceed further, as the Lord was leading me to the subjective experience of the word. Though outwardly sinful I may not be or at least appear to be, but there has been a struggle between my human spirit and my flesh, as is with any man with flesh and blood. I delved deep into the word and prayed, over and over again, considering the practicality of walking by the Spirit and not having to do with anything of the flesh.This has been going on for a considerable length of time. 

One Lord's day morning, I could not read my Bible further and I was led to pray a very genuine prayer, opening myself fully before the Lord. The Lord then shone upon me that the answer to the very question I had been asking was the very familiar phrase I have been using all my Christian life-- "in Christ!" 

When one is in Christ, sin, Satan, the flesh and the world has no ground. The fact that one is struggling a toggle between the two is, one is not in Christ. Where is Christ! "..in Christ....seating Him at his right hand in the heavenlies" Ephesian 1:20. So when one is in Christ, and since Christ is in the heavenlies, he is in the heavenlies in Christ! If one is truly in Christ, the question of the flesh is obsolete. But the question remains, "How can one practically be in Christ moment by moment?" As I pondered over this question, the Lord shown on me further with the very dictum of the church life, "Exercise your spirit!" What a revelation of the revelation that have become so common. Yes, to exercise my spirit and to live in the mingled spirit is the way! Hallelujah!

As I went through these mysterious interaction, out sprang a very familiar hymns that I could sing the whole lines by heart, even in Hindi. I enjoyed singing this hymn and joyfully thanked the Lord for my spirit and His Spirit in me. Yes, to be in Christ, is to be in spirit; exercising our spirit to live and walk according to the spirit.

Later this experience became my portion and I ministered to all the saints in the local church on that Lord's day prophesying meeting.

1. We will sing to the Lord with our spirit,
   We will sing to the Lord from within,
   We will sing hallelujah to Jesus;
   And be blent into oneness with Him.
2. We have been many years in religion,
   We have been many years in our mind,
   We have been many years in emotions,
   Always seeking, but never to find.
3. Now we’re learning to turn to our spirit,
   Now we’re learning to take Christ as life;
   Now we’re learning to feed upon Jesus
   And be freed from all struggling and strife.
4. Hallelujah for life in the Spirit,
   Hallelujah for newness within.
   When we turn from our mind to our spirit,
   We enjoy all the riches of Him.
4. Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/1141#ixzz2bReGnYkp

Zeroed

The Lord in His sovereignty allowed me to experience Him practically in many minute and practical matters these days. Especially, making me realise that I am nothing and indeed, nothing; not just a mental apprehension but a real life experience. All the good qualities I thought I possess were all stripped off one by one. My strong points became my weak points; both in the physical and spiritual realm.

I used to think I am a man of prayer, but the Lord showed me that without His grace I don't have any strength to pray. I used to think I am a seeker of the truth, with much hunger and thirst for the Word, but the Lord showed me that without His operating in me I have no thirst for Him and without His Spirit's enlightening I have no taste and enjoyment of the Word, even though I still may read the Word regularly. I used to think I am full of patience, but the Lord exposed me in many minor things that I really do not have any patience at all; rather I complained and murmured, and that He alone can be my patience. I used to think I am quite disciplined from childhood but without the Lord's grace, I realised discipline is just a regulated form of asceticism. I used to think I can discern things rightly and make decisions wisely, but the Lord exposed me that my discernments are full of shortages and my decisions are full of flaws. I used to think I am wise enough comparatively but my own wisdom condemned me of how foolish I was and have been. 

These experiences are treasure to me; an exposition of my self, who is just worthy of condemnation and death. This humbled me to the core and I thanked the Lord for such a revelation. Otherwise, I would have been a blind fool assuming to be wise.

It took a lot of dealings by the Lord to bring me to this realisation. What a mercy to see and know who I really am. With this revelation, I humble myself before the Lord and cry out for His mercy. And this confirmed my desperate need to be identified with the crucifixion of Christ and live in His resurrection life.  

Lord have mercy on me, and continue Your wise work of stripping until none of my self remain, but only You and You only. Hasten that day!

Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

Recovery Version Note 2: To be poor in spirit is not only to be humble but also to be emptied in our spirit, in the depth of our being, not holding on to the old things of the old dispensation but unloaded to receive the new things, the things of the kingdom of the heavens.

To do the right thing, in the right way at the right time is not sufficient, it must also be done in the right spirit. Its not merely a matter of being right outwardly, but much more being right in our inward being; having the right spirit in doing the right things. This is far more important than just doing things right.

To be poor in spirit is to have the right spirit in every matter. Especially in our Christian living, walk and work, a proper spirit is of utmost important; never assuming we are qualified or "spiritual" or "good". One who is poor in spirit is always humble before God and before man, not to receive praise from man of being humble, but genuinely and deeply seeking the Lord and His kingdom; always open to Christ, the Head of the Body and also to the believers, the members of the Body, for more fellowship and the Lord's speaking, in the principle of incarnation. Such a one trembles at His word and also rejoices at it, and heeds the word in all purity, sincerity and faithfulness. Such one boasts of nothing except in his own weaknesses and in Christ the Lord. Blessed are, indeed, such ones: poor in spirit.

These days the Lord's speaking to me is just the same. My prayer has been that the Lord, in His mercy, would make me poor in spirit and pure in heart. Any impurity or pride within me may be uprooted from its very core till I be as blessed as the poor in spirit. In fact, in reality, I know I am not, yet I look to the Lord to make me such. May the Lord have mercy on me.

Recently a brother texted me of the Spirit taking the things of Jesus and making it real to us, as in John 16:15. My immediate reply was, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, to realise the reality of Jesus as realised by the Spirit." Yes, every spiritual and heavenly blessings, all of the all-inclusive Christ as the all-inclusive Spirit can be real to us and subjectively experienced by only those who are poor in spirit. For the things of God, of the Spirit, of Christ can be realised only in the spirit, and this too provided, one is poor in spirit to realise the reality of God. So truly, and indeed truly, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens."

Lord, make me poor in spirit!

Family Time

God has blessed me with a wonderful wife, my better half and my perfect match, with two wonderful kids and awaiting the third one. Counting over all what God has blessed, I have no reason why I should not thank and praise God. What a blessing! And what more can be more blessing than this? Life is wonderful in Christ. Sometimes hearing of many cases, I wonder why people do not enjoy their lives? Perhaps, they are void of the true and living God? For believers in the true and living God, everything is so sweet and enjoyable, even bad things at its worst, is a deeper experience of the Lord. So nothing is bad for those who are truly in the Lord. Come what may, God is with us. The presence of God means everything.

Sweeter even, is the enjoyment of family life with children; just being a husband to my wife and a father to my children, spending time together; playing together and doing household chore together, etc and etc. What an enjoyment! Though I have been a father for more than half a decade, I have never experienced the sweetness of family life as the Lord has graced me these days. Training children, teaching and educating them, praying together with them, reading the word of God--the Bible together with them, and in their childish fight, intervening to make peace between them, caring for them when they are sick physically,.. The list may go on and on. All the world has to learn doing things is right there in a proper family life. If one can handle his own family well, all the basic learning to deal with the world is half learned. O the importance of a family life, who can fathom it?

This is why Satan hates a proper family life; he is using all tools to dislodge the family ties. Couples falling prey to the Devil's subtlety are pitiful. Recently I have come across some; swirled by the typhoon of household turmoil. May the Lord preserve my own family from such and also preserve the families of the saints. Only the covering canopy of the Lord's blood and the supplying grace of the Holy Spirit and the unfailing, eternal and divine love of the Father can preserve us, purely, holy and wholly for Him. Slowly, yet steadily, as the years go by, family life is sweeter and sweeter, in the Lord.

As much as a normal Christian has his time with the Lord, in the word and for the saints in the church, so much more, there must be a family time. Parents having no time for their children, busy in their work to make money is the worst at its best. Even if it is for the Lord's work, family must not be neglected, not that family stands between God and us, but proper time must be given just for the family. Though parents must do their best for the family, yet the outcome is all upto the Lord's mercy. May the Lord bless every Christian family. And may the Lord preserve my family unto the end for His purpose.

Bear One Another's Burden

Galatians 6:

1 Brothers, even if a man is overtaken in some offense, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, looking to yourself lest you also be tempted.

2 Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ completely.

Recovery Version Verse 2 Note 1: The higher and better law of life, which works through love (Rom. 8:2; John 13:34). Love is the issue and expression of the divine life (cf. 1 Cor. 13) and is an item of the fruit of the Spirit (5:22). The law of Christ, which is the law of love, must be substantiated by the law of the Spirit of life that we may be able to bear one another's burdens.

As the Lord has been dealing me with the matter of love for the saints, which is possible only by His divine love inwrought and overflowing through my being, now He is leading me to another step of bearing my brothers' burden as my own. Slowly yet steadily, and step by step, He is helping me climb the ladder higher and higher. Often times my thought towards certain brothers were not pure, but as I was about to say something in order to correct them or adjust them, the Lord reminded me immediately, that my motive was not pure. Then I stooped back and reconsiderd. Yes, indeed, my motives were not pure. If I had a genuine love and concern for them I would not have reacted that way. I prayed and asked the Lord to deal with me and purify my heart instead. And the step following was quite contrary to what I intended to do or say.

When I witnesses brothers becoming prey to the enemy, should I be a mute spectator? Never. These days my prayers have been for the restoration of backsliden saints by praying an interceeding prayer. Though the answer may not be forthright, the Lord will recover all of them, one by one; a confirmed confirmation. Yet, in the very act, I must myself be watchful lest I be tempted as well. A care for brothers is an act of bearing their burdens too with the goal of recovering them back to a proper and normal Christian life in the church life.

As one loves and cares for one another, one must also bear one another's burden out of love. The Lord is beginning to teach me to genuinely care for my brothers not merely in spiritual propaganda but in physical reality. May the Lord have mercy on me that I may indeed pay the price to bear my brothers' burden too. In taking care of their physical and financial need. In their health and family welfare. These are indeed, the higher and better law of life, which works through love (Rom. 8:2; John 13:34). 

A Ray of Hope

For everything there is a season, And a time for every purpose under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Indeed there is lean season, as well as bounty season. However, in the work of God all seasons are His seasons, He does things perfectly at the right time, yes, in His time. 

Since long, I have been very much bothered by the situation of the local church I am in at the moment. Often in our brothers' fellowship I often expressed my burden and feeling. And it has been my intense prayer for the Lord to bring to further height of glory in gaining new ones absolutely for the Lord. Though we have contacted many, baptised many, but very few are solid, stedfast and stable. This bothered me quite much. In fact, this has become the church burden too, to focus on the shepherding in small groups in vitality for the growth and increase of the church. 

Though the burden for increase is heavy, the Lord surprisingly strip us off of serving ones in our locality. In spite of the expectation of more serving ones, the Lord reduced the number of serving ones, one by one, moving them to different cities. Amidst our meager number, families are migrating to different cities. Initially this bothered me even more. Nevertheless, the Lord is sovereign over all. He does things in His way and in His time.

Last night as I was praying and fellowshiping with the Lord and releasing burden after burden, the Lord reminded me that none of the new ones, under the shepherding and whom we have contacted for a considerable length of time, would be lost. They are preserved, waiting for the proper time to fully bring them into the church-life. Even as I was praying I began to call up the new ones one by one. Quite contrary to my expectation, they picked up my call and apologised for not being in contact for quite a while. In fact, all of them responded positively to the extend that we prayed over the phone with a promise to visit this week or the coming week. After all these calls, the Lord reminded me a verse, 1 Corinthians 15:58

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.

Recovery Version Note 3: Not by our natural life and natural ability but by the Lord's resurrection life and power. Our labor for the Lord in His resurrection life with His resurrection power will never be in vain, but will result in the fulfilling of God's eternal purpose through the preaching of Christ to sinners, the ministering of life to the saints, and the building up of the church with the experiences of the processed Triune God as gold, silver, and precious stones (3:12). This labor will be rewarded by the returning Lord in the day of the resurrection of the righteous (3:14; Matt. 25:21, 23; Luke 14:14).

The Lord's definite promise is that all of the ones on whom we labored, preached the gospel, ministered life and prayed for, will all be remaining fruits. And most of these people are the authentic locals. With this rhema from the Lord, I was enlightened to see beyond the visible and was full of hope. A ray of hope has dawned! And I was very much encouraged and strengthened. Moreover, all these new ones are young, well educated and well established in their human living. No wonder the Lord brought them into contact with us.

Praise the Lord for this ray of hope! Lord, may this ray bring in the full and bright sunshine.

Love and Serve

Galatians 5

13 For you were called for freedom, brothers; only do not turn this freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.''

The all-inclusive redemption of Christ a believer enjoys is an all-inclusive freedom in Christ. However, this freedom without discipline will lead into indulgence of the flesh. Though he is saved eternally, but he may not be saved definitely in his day to day living. Yes, Christ has freed us from the bondage of the law and the bondage of religion, but this freedom without a proper vision of the goal for which freedom was obtained would mislead one into the error of free indulgence under the disguised banner that one is under no bond and is free to do whatever he wants. This is an error of imbalance.

Often in a Christian's life one tends to take for granted the glorious freedom Christ has given. But this freedom is that one be a part in the fulfillment of God's eternal plan. The goal of freedom is that one can be free to enjoy the Lord, free to experience Him richly and free to built up in love with the fellow members for the building up of the Body of Christ. If one's freedom does not usher into God's eternal purpose, that freedom has lost its goal. The Galatians believers were freed from the old covenant to the new covenant, yet they tend to be yoked with religious old covenant again. This did not meet God's goal, Therefore, Paul chastised them.And with this freedom, " through love serve one another."  And all the whole law is fulfilled in one word "LOVE." "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.''

Yesterday and today, I got stuck at these verses. I could not go any further as I read these verses. For I have not in reality experienced this yet. This matter of love for one another, not only the brothers and sisters in the church, but also my neighbor as myself, is still a farsighted dream. In my self I cannot make it, for I do not have enough love, even the little I have is just cocooned in my own world--my self, my family and my-domain. These days, my prayer also has been that the divine love of God may fill and saturate me to love other with the divine love. 

Practically, God gave me an opportunity to experience this. After two months of considering and reconsidering, the Lord led us, me and my wife, in peace and in one accord to open our home for brothers' house. With the inner sense of joy and peace, we got through with this. What a mercy from the Lord! Still many more lessons to learn as bachelor-brothers are going to be blended with married family with kids under one roof. May the Lord bless this new beginning and make our church-life real with genuine care and concern for one another. 

Coincidentally, another incident occurred in which I was tested for giving accommodation to a brother in need  at the wee hour of the night without prior information.Though I said nothing nor expressed anything, I was exposed that my heart needed to be more enlarged. As I read this verse this morning, I just could not go forward with the succeeding verses. The Lord stopped me. The simple reason being, I have not learned my lesson well yet. Immediately I repented and asked forgiveness for not being broad-hearted. After this, when I met the brother, I greeted him well and the inner peace was restored. To take care of my brother's need, whatever the reason otherwise, is to love my neighbor as myself.

Again, God gave me another opportunity to give an impromptu love-feast to a couple who,  by the way, visited us. They had lunch with us, in my stead. And I was blessed to serve them even in little things of serving the food and washing the dishes. A goal of building up the Universal Body of Christ begins with a step of service.

Lord, give me more of Your love, that with your divine love, I may love my neighbor.