Golden Calf

In Exodus 32, the making of the golden calf was a deep spiritual lesson to me. As we pursued the Life Study of Exodus on message 174, the Lord enlightened me to see many things related to my living and service. 

The principle of the golden-calf idol is that wealth and treasures—gifts from God, both material and spiritual—are not properly used for God’s purpose. We need to be careful regarding both material things and spiritual gifts received from God, for we may not use these gifts properly for God’s purpose. 

The golden calf was made out of the golden materials brought out of Egypt which were meant for the building of the tabernacle of God. However, when Moses was communing with God on the mountain top, below the mountain was transpiring something of exact opposite. The high priest Aron made a golden calf! It's almost hard to believe it. But that was the fact, and spiritually is still the fact today.

Whatever gifts God gave to us must be used for God's purpose; be it spiritual or physical, everything is for God, out from God. But how many times did we use God's gifts rightfully as it should be? Any gift of God used for anything other than God or God's purpose is making a golden calf! And the one who misuses God's gifts is an idolater. According to this principle, I only have to confess that I need the Lord more to not misuse His gifts in any way.

Later, when Moses witnessed such idolatry out of the golden calf, he dealt with it in a very wise way. First, he petitioned God on behalf of the idolaters, reminding God of His promises, which even let God to repent of the evil intent he had upon idolaters. Second, he destroyed the golden calf, burning and crushing it into gold dust, and made the idolaters drink of this dust, perhaps as a chastisement and a negative memorable reminder. Third, he sanctified and separated those who were for God against those who were not, even leading to the killing of three thousand men, including the relatives of those carrying out the judging-killing spree. 

Once, one realises his being an idolater, all these dealings must take place to be fully delivered and completely sanctified. This message touched my being deeply. I am no exception as far as the principle is concerned, and I must deal with God's gifts abused, whenever the Lord shined on me. In fact, the Lord specifically led me to deal with certain "idolatrous" items, one by one, step by step. 

O may I be fully sanctified as those of the Levites! Lord, have mercy.

CA : Christ Associate

In the month of February this year, in the gospel preaching I met a professional CA, Chartered Accountant, and preached the gospel to him. Since then our association is of Christ, though we met now and then for official purposes. The meeting was blogged in http://palmeichung.blogspot.in/2014/02/ca.html. Since then, he has been on my prayer list for God's full salvation experience, particularly for baptism.

Today, as I discoursed with him on official matters and other related matters on taxation, investments etc., I also touched the matter of "success."  And emphasized on its true meaning; success is satisfaction in God, with God, for God, in Christ Jesus. He then became very interested. Therefore, discerning the need, I gave testimonies of being inwardly satisfied despite the outward environment, and that genuine success happens only when God blesses. 

God's blessings are beyond human imagination and very often comes in disguise. And one of the practical blessings is the growth in the divine life unto maturity. Yet for this growth, there must be a fundamental or foundational starting point. For spiritual growth in Christ, the most crucial starting point is believing into Jesus Christ and baptizing into the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit or into the Lord Jesus Christ. The former, he had passed, but the later, he had some doubts and did not feel the need for it. 

At that juncture, I explained about the spiritual significances of baptism and why it must be done, especially on the matter of fulfilling God's righteous requirement, termination of the old man and germination of the new man, a declaration and testimony of being the son of God, born of God and the organic union between God and man with few other examples in real life. Then he began to clarify various matters related to the pre and post baptismal lifestyle and the do's and don'ts. To which my simple reply was "the Lord as the Spirit will lead and guide into all the truths." He was so convinced, and the Spirit was speaking and moving behind the scene. Then he asked of how baptism happens and when it should be done, I said, any time when he is ready that is the right and best time, and must be as soon as possible to avoid the bait of satanic procrastination. After all this fellowship, he himself declared that he wanted to be baptized right away. It was almost unbelievable. I did not expect this nor was I prepared for it. But I was very confirmed within and without that this is the Lord's doing, and followed suit.

He then was baptised! Hallelujah! He is now my real CA, Christ Associate; from being my Chartered Accountant to Christ Associate. 

Some encouraging testimonies he testified were, since the time we met first, he stopped going to temple, then as we met again, many changes have transpired within him, then he started praying to Jesus. Even business-wise, his business grew and became "successful" from the time we met, and also testified how blessed he was since then. 

Even right after his baptism we had fellowshipped and he testified that he felt very happy and joyful. Now, he belongs to the big family of God! I encouraged him to contact the Lord all the time by calling upon the Name of Jesus, to pray as much as possible, to read and eat the Word of God, the Bible, daily, in fact, gifted one Bible to him with a portion on the Gospel of John to start reading, and the need for fellowship as brothers and in the church. 

May the Lord gain him fully to be a pillar and pillar builder for the church in Gurgaon. Now a Christ Associate, and then also a Church Associate indeed. What a CA!

A Sleepless Night

Was it an insomnia or was it a tea-effect or was it the whether that I could not sleep at all last Lord's day night? The reason, I am not sure till now. But one thing I am sure of is, there was a spiritual battle waging. The recent incident of encountering  a demon possessed person and the aftermath of that, a deep burden was registered within me to engage in prayer. The Lord allowed me to experience such an incident as a wake up call for me to take prayer seriously and the reality of spiritual warfare. But a true spiritual warfare is fought in the Body, by the Body, with the Body in the Lord and for the Lord.

That sleepless night, I listened to messages of the recent ITERO on the New Jerusalem and enjoyed some hymns. After all that, I tried to get some rest, but sleep has left me. It was well past midnight. Now and then, I got up and walked around in the wee hours of the early dawn. 

Helpless, I gave myself into prayer, an intercessory prayer for the Lord's move in India and a need for a solid breakthrough in the northern part of India, a land filled with idolatry and darkness. The prayer was so intense, yet so enjoyable. Perhaps, that may be the reason for which sleep has left me, so that I could intercede and pray for the Lord's interest. The prayer burden included a prayer for the new PM of India and the new Government forming, that God may use it for the widespread of the Gospel of the Kingdom. I had such strong burden and confidence that the leaders of the nation must be met one day to preach the gospel and bring them to salvation. O how I long for that day! Only God knows when. (Lord, hasten that day.)

What a grace and what a blessing for such a rare opportunity to be able to pray and pray. If not for the Spirit of God, I would never had the strength to pray, much less the burden. Often, this special visitation of the Lord to pray on a sleepless night, I reckon it a blessing. And later, I read my daily portion of the word, the Bible, and greeted the day with a fresh morn and bade adieu to that sleepless night. Bye "sleepless night," see you again soon for another session of prayer.

A Gospel Trip

As per the scheduled cycle of visiting the newly propagated city, Jaipur, last week was the Church in Gurgaon's turn. I was not mentally nor physically prepared for this trip, hoping that some brothers would pick up the burden and go. But at the last moment, none could make it. So I had no choice, but decided to pick up the burden myself and go, out of a pure sense of responsibility as a brother in the church. But when I was actually ready to go, it was too late to get a train ticket. My only option was to go by bus, and I dared to try out the public transport system.

However, after an hour's wait, no common bus were available, and I had to go by a special AC Sleeper coach, to be shared with a co-passenger. This also was against my wish yet, the Lord's special arrangement. As we began our journey, we slowly made friend and trip was worth the trouble.

This new friend became my gospel friend and for about an hour, I preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, beginning with the plan of God in creation, the fall of mankind and the redemption accomplished by the only one unique and true living God, Jesus Christ, and also showed him how to believe into Jesus by prayer and that through faith in Jesus only his sins could be forgiven and that he could receive the life of God. A well planned gospel meeting on a surprise gospel trip indeed.

Looking back at what had happened, I realised the Lord wanted to save that man on the bus, so all the impromptu decisions had to take place. Even my going to take this gospel trip at the last moment though I had no plan for it whatsoever, was  God sovereing arrangement.

Even while in Jaipur, the fellowshipped I had with the new ones and especially with the brother's family serving there was really fruitful and enjoyable. We had solid hours of fellowship and prayer. In fact, I encouraged the brother and me to fight the battle on the knee, even with fasting at least once a week. This matter of spiritual warfare could not be taken so lightly. A specific, strategic and intercessory prayer must be offered up to conquer the dark city of idolatry. This matter, the brother agreed to continue; not too much of outward work, but more of the battle fought on bended knees. In fact, we started the warfare in prayer together.

Moreover, for me it was a "retreat" from my busy life in Gurgaon and I could enjoy some solid hours of prayer. In fact, the deep desire and burdened for prayer was ignited, and I could just release my spirit and my burden to the Lord in prayer. By the way, I was also saved from some busy schedule, had I not taken this gospel trip. Overall, it was a pleasant gospel trip, and a fruitful one, mutually helping one another of those of us who serve the Lord full time. Now I can joyfully say, "Praise the Lord!" for this gospel trip.

An Encounter

A rare but precious experience the Lord graced me last Saturday. I was in Jaipur to coordinate with the brother there. I had no specific agenda but submitted myself to the arrangement of the brother there. Since morning as we had fellowshipped, the Lord's anointing was sweet and dear. At about lunch time a new one came and that opened the door for a new experience of Christ.

He confessed that he believed in God, a generic God, the One supreme being and above all. As I preached the gospel systematically with the exercise of my spirit, from creation to the fall and to redemption, step by step, he could follow through and agreed without any doubt. And ultimately I asked him to pray and receive the Lord with me. At this point he was so reluctant, then I prayed for him and requested him to pray the sinner's prayer to receive the Lord, either by praying with his mouth open or in his heart silently. He preferred to do silently. But I was not satisfied and told him to confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in his heart. To help him further, I called upon the Lord's Name out loud so that he could follow. At this juncture of calling upon the Lord's Name, "Lord Jesus!" repeatedly, something began to manifest.

Suddenly he changed his countenance and stubbornly denied the Name of Jesus. Then I discerned he was possessed by demons. But I had no fear at all, I looked at his face straight, eye to eye and asked him to call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus. The demon manifested in anger and lifted up his hand as to strike me, perhaps. But I was not disturbed, I repeated, "Jesus is Lord! Christ is Victor!" Then, as he would hit me, he hit at the table upon which we faced each other. And suddenly he laughed out loud like a fool and then suddenly turned violent again; arrogant and angry, the demon looked at me with angry fiery eyes, and hit the table again, this time the table broke at the central portion. This act provoked my spirit so much, and I shouted, "Satan, leave P.....p alone! I command you to leave!" Then he changed his mood as to torture his body and shyly stared at me. All the while I said, "Jesus is Lord! Christ is Victor!"

Then, finally, everything became calm and normal, and the new one stood up, apologized saying, "Sorry for whatever have happened" and left. This encounter gave me a deeper sense of awareness of the spiritual warfare we are engaged in.

Later, I felt the urged to pray for him earnestly and prayed that the demons would fully leave him. I only regretted that we let him go so easily. I felt we should have stopped him and helped him to have a definite breakthrough. Anyway, we prayed, even with fasting that he be fully delivered. 

The next day we called him if anything had happened the previous night, because we prayed for him during that time and I personally felt that something had transpired as we prayed. He told that, some ladies disturbed him the whole night and that he could not sleep. When we prayed, the demons were terrified and that he had to torture him. I wanted to meet him again, and called up. But he never turned up. I still hope and pray that the Lord would fully deliver him.

Looking forward for another encounter, this time with a definite breakthrough.

Dehydration

Last week I had a night long loose motion and lost a lot of water from my body. The next day, I was fully weak with lots of muscle cramps and headache. At first I did not know the reason for such pain and guesstimated instead that I must have been bitten by a dengue mosquito. Nevertheless, I mustered up my strength and still went for the meeting on the Lord's day. That meeting was important as it was North India Blending Conference where saints from North India came together for blending. A very rare and special occasion. I dared not miss it.

Inspite of the acute pain emanating from my body I still continued to stay till the end. Though I couldn't receive much, at least my presence was guaranteed. In the midst, a brother saw my weak condition and commented that I had dehydration and requested me to drink a lot of water. And later I ate some tablets and took rest. The following day too, I worked in the office till lunch and rested the rest of the day. And my only therapy was drinking water all this while.

I had consumed about 10 liters of water within 24 hours. I did my best to drink and drink in every possible way, in the form of juice or ORS or normal water. I became my own doctor. Quite naturally, I recovered speedily just by drinking water. This was a big lesson to me.

Often when our drinking of the rivers of living water is inadequate, we suffer from spiritual dehydration. Many murmurings, complaining, backbiting, etc are result of dehydration. So much pain within and without, because the healthy supply of life for the normal function of life is deficient. Therefore, for healthy and normal Christian life, we must drink the Spirit as the living water day by day. 

My wife's simple explanation was a revelation. When I had loose motion and my stomach was weak and empty, it cannot supply the life needed, therefore, the deficiency of life supply cause almost every member of my body to suffer. For the necessary life supply comes from my stomach.

This explanation registered in me a very deep spiritual lesson. Our spiritual life supply must be non-stop. We must take care of our eating and drinking. Eat and drink normally everyday and all will be well.

Trained Men

Genesis 14: 14 And when Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen of them, and pursued as far as Dan.

Abram fought for his brother Lot and recovered him from the captivity. That was a historical fact. But how could he do that? Yes, it was God's sovereignty behind the scene, a hidden intercessor, for both Lot and Abram. But more practically, in humanity, Abram had "trained men" whom God could use. Perhaps, one may argue that even without his trained men if God wanted to recover something He still could do it. Perhaps, yes. And may also be, no. God works in the principle of incarnation. He needs men to cooperate with Him, and very unlikely, God would do miracle in lieu of using men on earth. Therefore, for God to be able to use us anytime, anywhere, we must be "trained men" ever ready to cooperate with God in His move.

Today, we don't fight with flesh and blood, Ephesians 6:12 For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies. We fight the spiritual warfare by prayer. As Christ, our heavenly Intercessor, is interceding for us, we must cooperate with Him and intercede for the brother, fight for the brother by daily, intercessory prayer. We must be "trained men" of prayer for the sake of God and His eternal purpose.

The need of the hour is to be "trained men" including us and the saints in prayer to pray and intercede for the saints and the churches and the Lord's move on the earth. This matter impressed me so much, it became by prophesy in the meeting and also in the home meeting. 

Lord, train me to be Your "trained man" to fight for the brother.