A Testimony

A Note from Fellowship with a brother was indeed a testimony of the Lord's blessing I have been experiencing these days. Our fellowship on being a testimony is quite deep and have had a deep impact on me.

The Lord is after the preaching of the gospel becoming the testimony. The kingdom of the heaven must be in the church. Mathew 24:14 says, “for a testimony.” Romans 14:7, “Love, peace and joy” is the kingdom. A revival is a testimony, a manifestation of the divine life.

The Lord is working to make a testimony through the saints in the local churches. The builded church is the testimony of the kingdom living in and among a group of people. However, two things are needed for having a testimony: a God-man living and a church life, a meeting life. In the old testament, God’s people had the Tent of Meeting where God’s presence was rich and God’s oracle was strong. A meeting should be a totality of how each of us learn to live Christ.

In Mathew 13, the mystery of the kingdom is the word of God sown into our hearts. Verse 52 says, For this reason every scribe discipled to the kingdom of the heavens is like a householder who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.

For the testimony of God, first we must be a “scribe”, a believer constituted with the word, and then “discipled”, going through a process and be in the “kingdom of the heavens.” Then there must be “householders”, having something new, the new experiences of Christ as the newness and something old, something that has a history with the Lord. The old things are what the Lord had deposited into us over a long period of time. Something that the Lord has wrought as a history into us.  Not merely a special grace, something the Lord has graced to meet the urgent and special need. But much more the reserved grace, something the Lord has reserved over a period of time.

Who is a Scribe? Those who are constituted with the truth, one who has the word of God, a PhD in the word of God, a people of the Book!

To be constituted with the word of God. In the old testament, Israelites even carried the word physically, written on their walls and doorpost, but they were not constituted with it. But today we must be constituted with the word. Not just studying the word, but be constituted with it and keep speaking the word of God; to the gentiles and also to the saints.

The church is not strong because of the deficiency in the word of God. Only when we are filled with the word of God, we will be filled with joy, love, peace and overflow our enjoyment, full of life and be living. We must be leading the saints to the enjoyment in the word of God.

Acts 20:32 says, “..God and the word of His grace, which is able to build you up…” The essence of the church is the word of God. Only the word of God is a solid base and foundation for our Christian life. We must build the house of God with the word of God. Only the word of God can build up the church. There must be a steady progression in the enjoyment of the word of God. We must preach the gospel with the word of God.  For example, John 16:8, is a good verse for preaching the gospel; of sin, righteousness and judgement which is correspondingly of Adam, Christ and Satan. 

Katava Yeshuve!

Last week we were privileged to attend a prayer meeting of all the responsible brothers from all over Kerala. That was the Lord’s sovereign arrangement which was mingled together with our official plan for Malayalam translation fellowship. Every bit of the arrangement was apt and the Lord’s wisdom was marvelous.

First time in my life, I had attended the prayer meeting of all the responsible and leading brothers from the local churches all over Kerala. There was not much of speaking except the announcement of the prayer burdens. Though I linguistically did not understand anything of what were being prayed for, in my spirit I was crystal clear of the burden beneath the prayers, to which I whole heartedly echoed a resounding “Amen!” We all prayed, prayed and prayed in one accord in the spirit. It was indeed a glorious meeting of the brothers coming together in oneness that reminded me of Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity!”

Perhaps, there are negative things the enemy tries to spread all over, as he always does. But the prayer in oneness shuts the enemy’s mouth and binds him. The abundant blessings of the Lord may not be realized immediately, but for sure, the Lord’s blessings are pouring in. I willfully cease to believe in the Satanic lies of the problems among the churches in this state. The Lord is the Lord of the churches, in fact, He is the Head, and He is heading up everything, all the heap of collapse into the headship of Christ, setting things upright and turning every curses into blessings. The churches are glorious, the saints are beautiful!

Yes, this wonderful experience is enough reason to praise the Lord! And shout, “Katava Yeshuve!”

The Word of God : A Birthday Gift

Today is my physical birthday. I generally do not celebrate and don’t feel the need for it, however, this morning I came before the Lord and thanked Him for all His blessings and leading all these years. I really do not know how long will I sojourn on this earth. Only the Lord knows what is best. Factually, I have crossed about half of a normal life span in my native country. Whatever it may be, recollecting all that the Lord has done, I am filled with praises, thanks and worship to my Father God. “Thank you, Father!”

As I was in the presence of God, the Lord gave me a verse as my birthday gift, “And the man became very rich and continued to grow richer until he became very rich” Genesis 26:13. What a promised and what a fact indeed! In fact, the Lord has been very rich to me. I have been enjoying His riches all these years, from my birth, till my spiritual rebirth and further till date. His blessings has been so rich, and has become richer by the day and it will be until it will become very rich, both spiritually and the in other matters too.

Spiritually, this has been my experience. The Lord is so rich to me. Even physically, recollecting back, He blessed me physically too; from zero to this day where I can even share the rich blessings of God to others. And further, He promised even more riches. “Lord, thank you for the gift of Yourself, Your Word and all the other blessings!” What a birthday gift! A precious promise from the Lord….

As I reconsecrated my life and my family to the Lord, apart from His promise of riches, He also burdened me to accomplish the following three things before 2020, if He still tarries and if He still gives me breath in my nostril.

1. PhD Degree in the Lord’s Recovery: To read through and be constituted with the word of God. The reading through of 1984 life-study messages with the cream extract, and the 347 messages on the High-peak Truth and the Crystallization Study of the Bible.
2. Greek Learning and Bible Translation: To be Greek literate for Bible reading in Greek with the grammar, and be a part of the Bible translation of the Recover Version into Indian languages.
3. PhD in academic qualification: To get a PhD in academic studies with a burden of gaining the highly educated and elite section of the society for the Lord’s testimony.

These are the wonderful and surprise “Birthday Gifts!” May the will of the Lord be done.

Eight Years in Blessed Tie

Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10 

Today, the Lord has graced us through eight years of a blessed marriage life. The grace and mercy of the Lord has been so abounding since I got married to my better half. She is the perfect match for me and has been my best help meet I could ever imagine. In every aspects of my Christian life, church life, personal life, family life, service life, she has been my secret back bone, my pillar, supporting me through all thick and thin. 

Besides, she has been a lot of encouragement and catalyst in boosting my spiritual growth; even mental growth and physical fitness too. What more blessing can I expect from God other than the pearl of my life. Who indeed can find such a worthy women, if not for God who gives and blesses? "The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain." My heart trusted her whole heartedly, and never once for this eight years of marriage, I ever doubted her on any matter, not even an iota. Be it in family matters, or things or in money matter, I have trusted her fully, next to God. 

She is so simple, so sincere and so sweet, though sour sometimes, for my own good. She indeed is the perfect match for me. 

And all these years, the Lord has blessed us with three beautiful and lovely children. Not even one of them I ever expected, they are all the Lord's blessings, and what more can I say?  In fact, all of them were a "miracle" to me. I did not ask for them, nor did I hope or ever wish for them, the Lord just blesses, and I just thank the Lord, God of blessings. Often times, when I went before the Lord and considered all what He has done for me and my wife, I can only praise Him and thank Him. Tears of joy sprang from within my inward being. The Lord is so good, and words does not suffice to explain the inexplicable. Except to whisper in thanksgiving, "Lord, thank you..."

Before I got married, I wished that my wife matches the words in Proverbs 31. And since the day I got saved, I had been praying for my marriage that the Lord's perfect will be done, even at the cost of my own choice. The Lord has been faithful to listen to my humble prayer. Today, as I consider before the Lord, the blessed marriage and family life He blessed me with, the verses literally matches that of my help meet, if to be paraphrased in today's practical equivalence. 

• 13 She seeks wool and flax, And delights to work with her hands.
• 14 She is like the merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.
• 15 She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household, And their task to her serving girls.
• 16 She considers a field and buys it; With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
• 17 She girds her loins with strength And makes strong her arms.
• 18 She samples her merchandise to be sure it is good; Her lamp does not go out by night.
• 19 She lays her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold on to the spindle.
• 20 She stretches out her hand to the afflicted, And she reaches out her hands to the needy.
• 21 She does not fear for her household when it snows, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
• 22 She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
• 23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
• 24 She makes linen garments and sells them And delivers girdles to the merchant.
• 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she happily looks forward to the time to come.
• 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
• 27 She watches closely over the ways of her household And does not eat the bread of idleness.
• 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
• 29 Many daughters have done worthily, But you surpass them all.

To the Lord's blessings I opined none, yet open myself for more of His blessings for the coming years. That we may "love the Lord more and love one another more, one with the Lord more and one with one another more," has been our daily prayer, and may it ever be so, in prayer and in reality all the days of our lives.

Because out from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.Romans 11:36

Half-yearly Blessings

Since we received the fellowship from the Body and started cooperating with the Lord's move by taking practical steps to help the saints to function in gospel preaching, prophesying and in various other services, we started receiving the Lord's blessings. Blessings, first of inward recovery by life and vitality. Then, the blessings corporately as the church. 

Dormant saints starts functioning, weaker saints are growing in the divine life and meetings of the church became more and more enjoyable, rich and high.Last Lord's day, the meeting was so rich. The speaking of the Lord was so strong and the physical number of attendance filled the meeting hall, and spiritually, the saints were shining. 

Of course, in the midst, there were attacks of the enemy in various forms. But all the works of Satan were just opportunities for the Lord to manifest His multifarious wisdom. Two such cases were witnessed last month. One was a brother who was so disturbed by his work schedule and worldly friends so much so that he hardly had time for his own family nor for the church. The other was so engulfed in fighting a legal battle that he literally was drained out in strength, finance and in his enjoyment of the Lord as he missed the fellowship for quite sometime now. In both cases, as a brother, the Lord graced me to visit them on different occasion. Not to try to solve their problems as such, but just a visit of grace and love. Actually, no one can solve their problems, but their problems can be unleashed through fellowship and prayer. Thank God, the Lord gave me the ear to hear what the saints had to say. I could not do anything but I could listen to all their problems, sympathized with them and most importantly prayed for them and prayed with them. Every time I was in this shepherding situation, I could experience the presence of the Lord and the outcome was always victorious and joyful. Such was the result of the two case aforementioned.

To me, these are sign of the Lord's working Himself into us, as the enemy resists too, with much attack from all possible angles. However fierce the battle be, the Lord Jesus is and always will be the Victor, and in Him we are victorious too. Hallelujah! These are signs of the Lord's blessings. And these are the blessings we, as the church are witnessing these days, in the midst of the year, now halfway through.

Even tonight, the Lord impressed me so much with the church's prayer meeting. It was so rich, so high and so enjoyable! Inwardly, I could see the Lord's blessing upon the church. I was filled with joy and inward brightness and felt very light and was at ease. O what a blessing! This is just a half-yearly blessing. We look more for the high-peak blessings in the days to come.

Lord, continue to bless Your church.

Preparation

“I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem…prepared as a bride”—Revelation 21:2:

The Lord's recovery is for the preparation of the bride of Christ. For the bride to be ready, the church, the bride of Christ must grow in the divine life unto maturity unto the building up of itself in love. The bride must not only grow unto maturity, but also must be beautified for the satisfaction and pleasure of the groom. Only with proper preparation can the bride be ready to marry the groom. This is God's heart's desire.

Practically, as I was under the dispensing ministry of the word, I was deeply impressed with this matter--PREPARATION. In every field of human life, there is a need for preparation. Be it short term or long term, be it in small things or big things, there is an urgent need for a normal, proper and thorough preparation; both in the physical and spiritual realm.

In my living, I must be prepared daily; to enjoy the Lord in the word and in prayer that I may grow and grow unto maturity. Personally and corporately, I must pursue the growth in life, by all means at all cost. Only such a desperateness will render me the adequate preparation I need to be mature in life, and on time.

Similarly, in my service, I must be ever prepared to meet all the business needs on time, and usher in a successful and fruitful corporate operation. Worldly and secular business men have sold themselves for "success", then why not for the Lord's move. But not in a natural way to produce Ishmael out of natural source and strength, nor in a presumptive way of using undealt natural wisdom naturally possessed of Eleazer, but of being thoroughly dealt by God, circumcised of the old man, and in resurrection of the new man trusting in God's grace, receiving the blessing of Isaac. This is the way I must take to prepare myself.

Preparation is a matter of growth in the divine life, and for such growth, there must be the daily eating and drinking of the word, here a little, there a little, now and then, again and again. And this will usher in the believers' readiness to be mature to bring the Groom back for the ultimate wedding day unto the ultimate consummation in the New Jerusalem.

Lord, prepare us!

Life Lesson : Water Scarcity

Today we had a shortage of water in our house, and in fact, the first time we were to live without it. The reason for the shortage was, the water pump could not be run during the water supply time slot as there was power cut consecutively for at least three slots. This lack of water threw the whole kitchen into a mess of used but uncleaned plates and utensils. A nice sight indeed, a memorable reminder.

In my time with the Lord, the Lord reminded me of many loopholes in my character. I could have avoided this scarcity of water, had I been more careful and concern about the whole situation. Actually, we had a bore-well installed which had not been working for long now. It got jammed somewhere in the machine or in the pipe. I had not taken a serious step to look into it and repair them. Had this been working well, this would have met all the scarcity, without having the need to deepen wholly on the public water supply. The Lord awoken me to care for all these small small things; He indeed is the God of small things. If one cannot be faithful in small things, can God entrust him with something big? Absolutely not.

Because of this lack, my whole family was suffering today. All the families who lives in the same bungalow suffered too. And the church meeting in the same building also was affected. From a small negligence, there was a big problem. Though this may not be as disastrous as anything else, but it indeed was a sure reminder to me, my need for more insight and care to be a faithful overseer in the things the Lord has pleased to assign to me.

In relation to this, the Lord reminded me also to consider and reconsider the best way to effectively serve Him, in the areas of service ordained to me. Many new steps have to be taken, in fact, a renewed vision and a new way of service must be implemented. The Lord wants to move fast but He cannot, if I am not ready to cope up with Him. May the Lord grant me the grace to be a proper person to care for all the minute detail in my living and service. May the lesson of life learned from water scarcity problem be not in vain, and may this not be repeated.