Except By Prayer

Matthew 17:21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. 

In the case of casting out of an epileptic demon, the disciple of the Lord faced a stiff opposition and were not able to cast out the demon. The Lord rebuked them of having too little faith, and the response He gave was  "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." 

In the work of the Lord, being in the spiritual battle field, I have faced many situations like this. The Lord was sovereign to allow me to go through such an experience which has always been a training session. The recent one was in the propagation in Jaipur. We have been offering prayers of various degrees and had propagated in this pink city. However, we could not see a solid breakthrough as yet. Albeit, many had been baptised but what we looked for, are local families who would take the stand for His testimony. Preaching the gospel, bringing people to salvation, even baptising them and setting up home meetings were done, but the local new believers who are stable spiritually and even otherwise is the lack, who could be the pillar of the church.

Two weeks ago, when I was there, a brother suggested that we fast and pray continuously for six hours, discerning the need of the situation. On that day we were supposed to go for a home meeting, but the Lord reminded me to cancel and stay back instead for a thorough prayer. I went out for personal time of Bible reading and prayer, and then with the saints corporately fast and prayed; the flow of the Spirit was so strong that I enjoyed it so much. Time was never a factor at all. Burdens were released one after the other; intercessions were made on  behalf of the ones already contacted, and binding and losing prayer was done corporately with a strong spirit. The flow of the Lord was so sweet yet so strong. And the result was imminent from that time on.

The next day, as we had home meeting with a seeker, who is a brother who loves the Lord and have been serving by faith, obeying the Lord's call, step by step, the flow of the Spirit was so strong. The Lord just flowed into us as life and flowed among us as life too. The fellowship went on from 3 PM in the afternoon till 9:45 PM in the night, approximately in proportion to the prayer time we had the day before. The fellowship was full of life's testimony, and full of truth on God's eternal purpose concerning Christ and the church; the standing, foundation, ground, fellowship, oneness, practices etc.. I just felt like the Lord had answered our prayer for the testimony in Jaipur. 

Moreover, he invited us for various group meetings, and even on the Lord's day he gave us the full freedom to minister the word as the Lord led. In all the meetings, the Spirit's move and anointing was very strong both from the ministering and the minstered ends. 

Besides, the Lord also led us to another family who loves the Lord so much. To this family too, the Lord gave us the Rhema word; they enjoyed the fellowship so much so that the fellowship went on and on. We ministered mostly from the ministry of the word the Lord has blessed His recovery with, to the extend that a sister willing volunteered to be a distributor of the ministry books in the city. 

All these ensued from God as the source of life and life-supply. Our sole responsibility was to be open vessels, cooperating with Him for His flow by much prayer and even by fasting. The Lord wants to move but His enemy has been opposing His move and that barrier need to be dealt with by us. Such move does not occur ordinarily, except by prayer and fasting.

With this experience, the Lord showed me something that would change my way of service to Him, especially in my locality where for long a definite breakthrough is yet to be witnessed. 

Lord, ever burden me for this kind of prayer and fasting, and grant me the grace to exercise so.

Beer-sheba and Rehoboth

The experiences of Isaac in Genesis 26 was full of God's blessings. Wherever he went, whatever he did, he was blessed by God. In fact, he was inheriting God's promised blessings to his father Abraham (vv. 3,4). Jehovah appeared to him and stopped him from going to Egypt, and he obeyed. And God promised blessings--"..I will be with you and will bless you...will give you all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.... I will multiply your seed...."

God's Blessings

Isaac obeyed Jehovah's counsel and he dwelt in Gerar (v.6) and the result was God's blessing upon blessings." And Isaac sowed in that land and gained in the same year a hundredfold. And Jehovah blessed him, And the man became rich and continued to grow richer until he became very rich (vv. 12,13)." Studying the context of these verses, the blessings of God was purely out of God as the fulfillment of His promised to Abraham and him, and was based on his obedience too. On the one hand it was God who blessed, yet on the other hand it was also man who cooperated with God for God to bless. When the two sides correlated, the blessings were forthcoming.

If God Blessed, We Are Blessed!

Wherever Isaac's servants dug wells, there were water, unlike if others would have dug. The same principle applied to all that belonged to or were related to Isaac. Because, Isaac had been promised to be blessed. No matter what he or his servant did, it commanded God's blessings. Truly indeed, if God blessed, we are blessed. It all depends upon God's blessings. This perhaps entails the fulfillment of the requirements for God's blessings. For Isaac's case, it was his obedience with God's promised blessings.

This matter touched my being deeply. In whatever we do, as children of God, the reality of the sons of Abraham, the promised seed, we are also promised the same blessings. Only if we obey God's speaking in His appearing to us, all the blessings are ours. God blesses as He is a God of blessings.

Rehoboth Versus Beer-sheba

Rehoboth

"...so he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, Now Jehovah has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land (v.22)."  Prior to this, whenever a well was dug and water found, there was a dispute; finally when there was no more dispute, it was called Rehoboth, meaning broad places or broad way. Perhaps, the deck was cleared for fruitfulness in the land. This was pretty much related to the dealing of negative things for man's peaceful existence. Though the wells dug had water, due to the dispute, the blessing could not be enjoyed. There was a need for a proper base to enjoy God's blessings. When one was found, it was named Rehoboth, very similar in line with the judicial aspect of God's salvation when all the negative thingswere finally dealt with by the Lord at the cross by the shedding of His precious blood, as signified by the blood that flowed out of His pierced side in John 19:34.

Beer-sheeba

When Isaac went upto Beer-sheba, Jehovah God appeared again.

Genesis 26:24,25,32b,33

"And Jehovah appeared to him the same night and said, I am the God of Abraham your father. Do not be afraid, for I am with you, and I will bless you and multiply your seed for My servant Abraham's sake.

And he built an altar there and called upon the name of Jehovah and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servant dug well.....

We have found water. And he called it Shibah. Therefore, the name of the city is Beer-sheeba to this day."

In Beer-sheeba, there was no dispute with any one. Instead, Abimelech came to make peace with him and made an oath, a covenant, with him as the former witnessed the blessing of God upon the latter. "We plainly see that Jehovah is with you; (v.28a) ..You are now the blessed of Jehovah (v.29b.)"

This was in line with the organic aspect of God's salvation, when one begins to enjoy God's deeper work of growth, transformation and building up for the fulfillment of God's need. A step forward from Rehoboth which dealt mostly with man's need. In this place, Beer-sheeba, Isaac had further experience of Jehovah in His reappearing to reconfirm the blessings promised. The additional things he did were very significant. He did mainly three things:

1. built an altar there 

2. called upon the name of Jehovah and 

3. pitched his tent there

These three things are for God's satisfaction and for fulfilling God's purpose on the earth.

Note: Being Blessed is Not Maturity

However, being blessed does in no way guarantee one is mature in life. For in the case of Isaac in Genesis 27, his immaturity was out-rightly manifested in his lack of discernment when a false plot was laid at him by his beloved Rebecca and son Jacob. Vice versa may be true instead. A mature person always fulfill the requirements for God's blessings. 

Healing Word

Today the Lord showed me something that would hardly catch my attention, if not in sobriety and hunger. Though my attitude toward healing, particularly that of physical, are less important because of the widespread misuse by the charismatics, mostly for name and fame, rather than the true spiritual healing intended for, the Lord balanced me in my viewpoint to freshly appreciate a genuine healing touch by the Lord's healing word.

In Mathew 8:16, "And when evening fell, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed, and He cast out the spirits with a word, and all those who were ill He healed," Here is a succinct record of the Lord's healing with the His healing words. What was that healed any? It was the Lord, by His word! He healed the ills by His word. This is very interesting. While majority holds the concept that only a "healer" or specially anointed one can heal, as it is a gift. Well, that's not biblically false either, but the healing factor is the Lord's word, the word of God Himself, the word as the definition, explanation and expression of God in Christ as the Spirit! Going by this fact, actually any believer who has the rhema word can experience healing and can also heal. O what a discovery!

Psalm 107:20, "He sent forth His word and healed them, And He delivered them from the pitch of destruction." It is the word of God that heals. To me this applies to all the three parts of our being, our spirit, soul and body. The word of God can heal the abnormality in the physical body. The word of God can also heal the anxiety in the psychological soul. And the word of God can heal all the anomalies in the spirit too. These facts are out from a very subjective experiences the Lord has been gracing me with all these years. He heals our whole being with His words. Hallelujah!

Here's another reason why the word must be loved, read, digested and be constituted with. When the Lord was tempted in Mathew 4 by the devil with the misquoted words, He rightly quoted corresponding words and defeated the tempter. And similarly in Mathew 8, the casting out of the spirits (evil) was with the word ensuing healing. The word not only feeds, quenches and supplies, but also heals.

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!