Watch

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober; watch. Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking someone to devour.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch, stand firm in the faith, be full-grown men, be strong.

The Lord's speaking is so direct and clear to me today. Many hours have been wasted in vanity of vanity chasing after the devil's bait, going a never ending merry-go-round in vicious circle.The devil knows too well how to lay trap and catch his prey. Therefore, I must be watchful. For the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking someone to devour. This has been my experience time and again. A little looseness, a little spiritual slumber is sufficient to be looped into the circle of nowhere. With this shortcoming, the Lord, in His mercy, has given me a strong word today, in fact, reminding me of my need for watchfulness. "Be sober; watch."

The Lord said well to his disciples to watch and pray that they might not enter into temptation. He also taught us to pray in this way, "And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one- Matthew 6:13a". Often, I took it for granted the grace and protection of the Lord. And in such nominality, I bait myself a delicious prey to the devil. And the result at best is repentance, and mostly an indulgence of the flesh, inducting me into a life of Romans 7, when I should be triumphing in Romans 8 by living and walking according to the spirit. Nevertheless, this failure taught me lessons of life in minute detail. Perhaps, a lesson learned the hard way. 

Recently, a brother and I were setting up an FTP network for office data synchronization and for which the password he sent was a reference of 1 Corinthians 16:13. When I read the verse, I was revived afresh. It was so striking that it made my adrenaline pumping as I digested it. Moreover, the verse so emphatic and timely, "Watch, stand firm in the faith, be full-grown men, be strong." This is indeed should be my daily password to log into my daily living to have an access to the holy of holies. The initiation of this living is worth the lesson learned, "Watch, stand firm in the faith, be full-grown men, be strong."

These are wake-up calls from spiritual stagnancy to be vitalized for the Lord's present move. How I thank the Lord for this lesson and I pray that I daily may exercise to be watchful.

Lord, grace be to be watchful all the time and pray.

Streams in the Desert!

Beginning this year the speaking of the Lord ever has been, "Streams in the Desert!"

Isaiah 35: 6b For water will break forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.

This very verse, I have ministered and pray-read over and over again in the home meeting, small groups and in my official service fellowship. The Lord's word, even of old, is so fresh and living. Knowing the situation around me, both physical and spiritual, whether of family matter, personal or even the church, the scenery is that of  a "wilderness." But the Lord's speaking over and over again is, yes there may be desert and wilderness, but He will cause "water to break forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert!"

When, in our official meeting, I chose Isaiah 35 for pray-reading, the Spirit flowed forth like torrent. All the brothers were filled with exultation of joy, of hope, of encouragement. We enjoyed the Lord's fresh speaking so much so that I even personally felt, all the plans for this year has already been accomplished, by faith. Similarly this  applied to our church brothers' fellowship and prayer. Ground reality may still seem we are roaming in the wilderness, but the Lord will cause "water to break forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert!"

Today, in my reading of the word, the Lord echoed similar promise again. Isaiah 43:19b, 20b, "I will even make a way in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert,....Because I have given them water in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert, To give a drink to My people, My chosen ones."

What more can I say than a full hearted "Amen?" This truly is the Lord's speaking. What a grace, what a blessing! This is indeed becoming a mysterious hidden driving force for my service and living. All the names the Lord led me to jot down for prayer for specific answers are all of "wilderness" cases. In fact, many of those on my prayer list are, "hopeless" cases, to human observation, and I myself are often tempted to give them up, reasoning often, if I am wasting my time on them. But the inner voice whispers, "streams in the desert." This strengthened me to continue to bear all those on my list to continue to pray and intercede until there indeed is a bright shining manifestation of "streams in the desert." 

Lord, hasten that day.

Stranger-Brother

Two days ago we were privileged to host a stranger from a far away land, a brother who was saved from a religious background, who had the burden to serve the Lord among his own community, untouched and unreachable, till date, but had to serve in an institution to make a living on humanitarian ground to feed his family of six. It was all a surprise visit; at the first meeting when he arrived at night with just a bag and shabbily dressed, my natural mind wondered in discernment, if I had the right discretion to host him or sent him back. But as we fellowshipped, things became much clearer, though I dare not say it was crystal clear. When in an exercised spirit the Lord reminded me of my responsibility to take care of him in all that I possibly could. With no second thought, dinner was gotten and bed made ready. It was a surprise visit, yet it truly was something of the Lord, time will reveal it in His appointed time.

This reminds me of Jehovah God visiting Abram in Genesis 18, and this was also my Bible reading portion yesterday, after the brother left. And this also is an answer to my prayer as I want to be more hospitable, so the Lord sent him? Till now, I could not still figure out how a strange whom I never met and not even knew, suddenly decided to come a 12 hours journey by bus in this cold winter and landed to my home in the night by faith. What if he could not contact us, or somehow missed the way, as he came for here for the first time? Viewing his side of the story, I really appreciate the faith he had in the Lord and in us, my brothers and me, though we never met before.

And as a brother and I went to see him off when eh decided to go back the next day after adequate fellowship, he was very frank to open up his real situation that he did not even have enough money to go back home even. To this, a little room was again given to "discernment" of his genuineness, but the Lord immediately reminded me that He has blessed me enough, and even more than what I really needed, so I must take care of the need of others. In fact, before this stranger-brother came, I had a fellowship with a brother concerning helping others financially- its pros and cons and the how, when and why. The conclusion we had was, according to the Lord's blessings and leading. So here's the time to practically exercise the truth and revelation the Lord has revealed. So, without any hesitation, the Lord's blessing was shared with this brother's urgent need. O what a sweet Christian brotherly fellowship! And what a grace to be able to share God's grace with the needy, especially my brothers in Christ.

This stranger-brother is no more a stranger. He is a dear brother in the Lord, and the Lord has sent him to fellowship with us for His purpose. The seed has been shown and one day, the Lord's blessings will be fully manifested in that part of the country where he belong. Though that may be a sensitive political zone as far as the country is concerned, but the Lord will have His testimony among the many chosen from that community in that land to be the "good land!"

Lord, thank You for the visitation of grace through a "stranger-brother."

Tears of Love

Its long since I deeply touched the love of God and loved Him in return even to the point of shedding tears of love. Perhaps, this is emotional, so be it. God has given man emotion so that man can love Him with the first and best love. 

Recently a sister, in her desperateness of life, texted me what she should do to please the Lord. My response was innate. Matthew 22:37, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." And the Lord confirmed it emphatically that, "This is the great and first commandment," verse 38.

This matter of loving the Lord has been neglected by many, even among the redeemed and called, yes, and even among those who serve "full-time." The greatest danger in a Christian life is the falling away from loving the Lord. Sometimes, many Christians and Christian workers are too much engulfed in their so called "work" for God(?) to the extent that they forget loving Him altogether. What does the Lord require of us, except to love Him? Of course, "works" will ensue out of the love for Him, not otherwise, nor vice versa. Even still, loving the Lord must be above all, and nothing between us and the Lord.

When the Lord called me in January 1, 2004, through this striking rhema verse, Deuteronomy 10:12, "And now, O Israel, what does Jehovah your God ask of you except that you fear Jehovah your God so that you would walk in all His ways and love Him and serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul," I fully could not really understand it deeper beyond giving up my career and my earthly future to serve Him full time. But somehow, though I have been in His service since then, till today by His mercy, often, I have to confess, I love the Lord's work more than the Lord Himself, the ministry of His word more than the Lord Himself, the many experiences and enjoyments of the Lord more than the Lord Himself, or even sinners and the believers more than the Lord Himself, or even the blessings of God more than the Lord Himself, even spiritual things more than the Lord Himself. There are many replacements of the Lord Himself. Not to mention the world, sins and satanic temptation; the very things of God are, many times, real replacement of the Lord Himself. These days, in fact, today, the Lord touched me deeply about the object of my love : the Lord or anything else? 

A hymn composed by one of my maternal uncles, a dear brother in the Lord and once upon a time, my local guardian when I was a student in Shillong, who dearly loves the Lord and an ardent seeker of the truth, has touched me in a very fresh and deep way. The hymn is titled, "Hon ngai ing e, Toupa Jesus," meaning, "I love You Lord Jesus." Listening to this hymn of a very subjective, affectionate, intimate, personal love and longing for the Lord as a dear pants for water in thirst, convicted me of my nominal love for the Lord all these years. I repented in tears for my mundane, pale and hypocritical love for the Lord. It refreshed my love for the Lord anew. I just echoed the hymn and offer my fresh love offering to the Lord in tears. "Lord, I love You. Forgive my lovelessness." On and on, I could not help releasing my tears of love for the Lord. The Lord truly is lovely, yes, so lovely.

Nothing can quench my love for the Lord. Though God blessed me and has been blessing me according to His riches, beyond all that I could even ever asked for. He blesses and blesses, even though I don't really ask Him. But even these blessings does not quench the thirst, hunger and love for Christ Himself. The more the physical or spiritual blessings, the more my hunger, thirst and love for Him grows. All "these things" are no comparison to the Lord Himself who surpasses everything physical, psychological and even spiritual. Only the Lord Himself can satisfy me completely, and nothing else. He is worth everything--my first love and my best love. To shed tears of love and offer up myself to Him fully cannot realize the love for Him fully. He is worth everything. To shed tears of love is no price compare to the Lord Himself. Even if I be martyred, still this is not sufficient, not that I should not be, but mentioning of His worth. Nevertheless, to shed tears of love is not less worth. I opine, the more the better, for He is truly lovely and He must be loved with the best, even with tears of love....

Lord, I love You! 

Time of Life

Genesis 18:

10:I will certainly return to you according to the time of life,

11:Is anything too marvelous for Jehovah? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life,...

The Lord's speaking and His unfailing promise is He will certainly fulfill what He promised according to the time of life. The time of life was the time of God's visitation, according to the context. The same is true of the rhema word. The time of life of God fulfilling His promise is when we are ready for the fulfillment and when God's timing is ripe too.

Nothing is too marvelous for Jehovah. What is needed is only the eyes of faith to see through. Similarly these days, though the Lord has promised many things, they are not promptly manifested or bestowed. But I am not discouraged. For it will be according to the time of life. Often I questioned myself and the Lord why many things I perceived by faith are not yet a reality. Be it spiritual matters of the church or myself, or even something physical. 

For instance, one of the main burdens of the church, including myself and many other saints, is to gain increase in life and in number. Many prayers have been offered and much effort has been made. But the result does not seem forthcoming as expected. Instead, many times, it appears traversing a downhill. Sometimes, the human mind reasons and questions to tally the burden with the result. This often is disappointing. Nevertheless, the Lord's speaking is crystal clear, it will happen according to the time of life.

How I wish that time of life is now. Perhaps, a natural desire of instant result? But the Lord knows best. After this speaking from the Lord, I would patiently labor and wait on the Lord for the time of life. Nothing indeed is too marvelous for the Lord. In His time and when we are ready, or rather when I am ready, He will fulfill all His promises one by one.

Lord, I need your visitation day by day as much as You indwelt me. I believe in Your word, nothing is too marvelous for You; all the prayer burdens will be fulfilled in Your time. All that You will, will be done according to the time of life. Lord, hasten that time!

Double Blessing

This new year the church in Gurgaon has a burden for every saints to enter into the holy word of the Bible and read through the text in a year; which means to read at least 3 from the old and 1 from the new testament. My innate response was that I have been pursuing my own schedule and that I need not bear another load. But after the 31st night special burden fellowship and consecration I decided to pick up this "extra load". My, from day one, it was such a tremendous blessing to me!

I still am continuing my regular pursuing with a deeper and serious studying on the text and the notes; and apart from that as I entered into the church's burden too, I received a double blessing. an "extra load", an extra blessing! Every chapter I read had something new and rhema for me. I really thanked the Lord for this "extra load", which redeemed my time and make me more disciplined. In fact, this is no "extra load" at all, instead its a blessing upon blessings.

For instance, last night in my bearing of the "extra load" I read Matthew 5:22-24. Immediately the Lord spoke to me to text these verses to two elders brothers who were not in good terms with one another. Almost half a decade ago, the Lord graced me to shepherd these brothers even unto the recovery of the church life in that locality. Later, the enemy's attacks became very severe, but the Lord's testimony shine all the more brighter. The elder ones became somewhat dull but the Lord raised up the younger generation with much vigor and vitality with full functionality as member of the Body of Christ. These offended brother even call to complaint his disagreements in many mysterious issues, but my only response was to give ear to what he had to say and cherished him to fellowship and reconcile with the brother who offended him, unknowingly and unintentionally. Last night, when I read these verse, the Lord's leading was to text the same to the two. Which I did, leaving the outcome to the Lord.

Even in the matter of prayer, propagation, shepherding and home visits, though I have been carrying them out, with the Lord's fresh speaking through the church, I coordinated with brothers for visiting the saints and the new ones. From day one, at least a scholar was brought to salvation. Another family was revived through a simple family visit where we fellowshiped and prayed together, and another two senior citizen new believers were very much vitalised. Whenever the Lord speaks to the church or through the church, blessed are they who hear what the Lord said and obeyed. And I am graced to enjoy this blessing of being one with the church and the Lord. O what a blessing! A double blessing indeed.

Righteousness

These days the Lord's speaking to me is concerning "righteousness." Again and again, the Lord reminded me of righteousness, be it in my reading of the word from the old testament or from the new, be it in experience or what's happening in Delhi, the capital city; a party whose propaganda is righteous coming to power from nowhere. Truly, the Lord is working among the nation and mankind, and He is speaking to His children, even me, through the logos or rhema or even through the socio-political-economic atmosphere.

Isaiah 32

15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is considered to be a forest.

16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness will remain in the fruitful field;

17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the result of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.

The only righteous one is God Himself. This Righteous One was incarnated as a Man, Jesus Christ, and passing through death and resurrection, now to us today, He is the Spirit, "the Spirit is poured upon us from on high." The Righteous One is in the believers as their righteousness. "And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the result of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever." The whole world is teeming with unrighteousness, and the issue of such is restlessness and uncertainty forever. 

God is a God of righteousness, His throne is founded on righteousness and He will not tolerate any unrighteousness. To believers or unbelievers, to all men alike, He rules on the principle of righteousness. Unbelievers can pursue righteousness  objectively without really experiencing the Righteous One, still, in His mercy, God blessed them. These days, my fellowship with an aspiring bureaucrat is on this very matter where the majority of the already appointed bureaucrats have failed. Greed and lust have blind their eyes of the importance of righteousness, and they are trapped in the web of unrighteousness, which is a well known open-secret of corruption. May the Lord raise up young generation, men of God, to stand for truth and justice and walk the talk of righteousness.

1 Peter 3

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His bears incline to their petition; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

13 And who will harm you if you become zealous for what is good?

When one is filled with the zeal of God who is a Righteous one and stands and fights for righteousness, the Lord's grace and protection will sure be with him, this I say, in the context of humanity in social welfare. The same applies to all realms. For God is a God of righteousness.

Having been spoken too, through the word by the Lord, I helplessly recline at the Lord's bosom for more grace, that I may walk the talk and live the word spoken to. 

Lord, You are my righteousness. So be You, forever.