Being Nothing

O the joy of having nothing and being nothing, seeing nothing

But a living Christ in glory,

And being careful for nothing but His interests down here.

Whom have I in heaven but Thee?

And there is none upon the earth that I desire beside Thee.

O the joy of having nothing and being nothing, seeing nothing

But a living Christ in glory,

And being careful for nothing but His interests down here.

https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/ns/26?

Brother Nelson Darby's experience of Christ in being nothing was really hard to understand. Though I appreciate the hymn and the testimony behind the hymn, I am yet to fathom the true meaning of this hymn. 

What is the meaning of "being nothing"? Or "having nothing"? For in reality every one is something and indeed has something. Perhaps, there are deeper spiritual significance that I am yet to fathom. Perhaps, my growth in life will one day bring me to a better realization of this phrase.

Recently, the Lord began to give me some experiences of "being nothing." The phrase, to my understanding, means being emptied before God in simplicity with all purity; that one stands in the position of a created man before the Creator God and absoluteness acknowledges his nothingness before God and fully depend upon Him. In fact, this is a good standing ground in relation to God as the Creator and the Supreme and Sovereign One. Yet, this is just one side of a coin. For, God Himself is also mingled with man and becomes one with man and becomes everything to man.

With the little experiences of Christ and few knowledge about God and His ways, I discerned that a certain brother may match with a certain sister. I have been praying and doing all that I could to somehow fellowship with them, hoping, perhaps, that they would "amen" to one another. This process has been conceived for at least a year until I brought it up for fellowship. And almost a year has also transpired since the matter was brought out. But the answer was not forthcoming and not as discerned or hoped for. The same case is with another brother and sister. Everything of the inner voice seemed to sound a perfect match, however, what was in reality was not so. This experience was a true test of "discernment". By the way, so far, none of my "matching" proposal come to fruition. And thank God for that. This exposed me to at least see myself, and know myself, wherein I stand before God and man. And indeed, be assured in experience of "being nothing." 

This experience brought me to see in reality that I am indeed "nothing." My discernment whatsoever, be it spiritual or psychological, is really nothing. Feelings may come now and then, but the ultimate decision is the Lord's. I have no say, nor opine on anything. Thank God, for this experience. Perhaps, I am beginning to understand what brother J N Darby meant, "O the joy of having nothing and being nothing, seeing nothing, But a living Christ in glory". 

May the Lord grace me to understand more of "being nothing" but Christ.

Glorious Independence Day

 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. John 8:32

 If therefore the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Today, India is celebrating the 68th year of Independence. The nation is growing and going forward. And God has been blessing this country in His sovereign ways. However the real and true freedom is not merely political nor societal nor economical nor religious; the real freedom is spiritual which is all-inclusive to all the other freedom whatsoever. 

Today I enjoyed and experienced a glorious independence day. From morn till night, it was all the experience of the real freedom. With brothers and sisters, we went out to preach the gospel and have home meetings with the new ones. All the words ministered were related to the real freedom God has granted to all mankind through His Son Jesus Christ. That knowledge of the key to the real freedom is the truth. The truth concerning God, Christ, the Spirit, man and the universe. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free- John 8:32. This truth is personified in Christ Jesus, the perfect man and the complete God, who died to redeem fallen mankind and set them free.If therefore the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed- John 8:36. This is my independence day message to my fellow citizens, as I met them and spent time with them.

A Lawyer : A young supreme court lawyer was the first fellow citizen who welcomed us into his home. We started off with the matter of human conscience as God's representative which we have to pay heed to, especially in our daily living and profession. From then on, to the spirit of man wherein lies the conscience and the purpose of God in creating man with a human spirit. And then to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ who went through the processes of incarnation, human living, death and resurrection to become a life-giving Spirit which man has to receive by believing into the Lord Jesus Christ. After this wonderful message, he prayed and called upon the Lord's Name to receive Him into him. It was a glorious spiritual birthday when he believed into the true and living God, Jesus Christ. That time together on this day was indeed a glorious independence day.

An Engineer : An engineer, a business development manager, of my contemporary and his family was the next fellow citizens we could minister the word of God to. To them was on John 3, specifically on being born-anew and being born of water and the Spirit; the believing into the Lord Jesus Christ and the significance of baptism. They already received the gospel and we fellowshipped to strengthen their faith and shepherded them to subjectively experience the full salvation, the Son of God, had accomplished and granted to all those who believe. This too was a glorious time spent together that transcends nationality and all form of diversity.

An Engineer Again : Our afternoon meeting was with another engineer's family employed with a very reputed MNC in Gurgaon. Initially, he showed doubt and reluctance, but later, he invited us into his home. Our time began on IT platform where I discoursed on some IT stuffs as I have that base too. And then on to the one unique God as the Creator of the universe and the purpose of His creation, touching mainly that man was created in the image of God who is the reality of love, light, holiness and righteousness. And then on to the need for receiving this true and living God, Jesus Christ, to be the reality of love, light, holiness and righteousness into our spirit. Then we all prayed together to receive this God in Christ Jesus as the Spirit. And then, we sang hymn and became acquainted as friends and brothers and sisters. It was a glorious time together indeed. 

On this day, on the celebration of the national freedom, we also celebrated the real freedom in spirit by ministering the word of God in life and Spirit to fellow citizens and ushered them into the real eternal freedom. The freedom in Christ Jesus, the true and living God. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. John 8:32;  If therefore the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36.

This is indeed a glorious independence day! O, how I hope and pray, all my fellow citizens receive this real freedom!

A Pleasant Trip

My travel to Chennai two weeks ago was a very pleasant trip. According to my plan it should have been next month. But the Lord knew the best and I was "forced" to travel. Though initially very reluctant, but I gave circumstances the chance to proof if I should travel at all. The chances were, firstly, if I could get a confirmed train ticket. Surprisingly, within a three weeks time, I got confirmed tickets. And secondly, this travel should not coincide with any spiritual event. While going through my schedules and church calendar, everything fell in line. The two conditions were met. And it was thus planned.

Though it was summer season and my train was a SL Class(non-AC), nature cooperated with the itinerary. On the night I left New Delhi for Chennai, the weather was so pleasant and the path of the train journey had all experienced a cool rainfall. Physically, it was such a pleasant trip. Similar was the case on my return journey. In fact, I was sent off with a well wishing downpour from above.

Throughout the whole train journey, I enjoyed spending time with the Lord in prayer, a good physical rest too and much more, some solid time of pursuing the ministry books.  In fact, I had been longing for this for months as I was always busy at home and in the office. While on the journey back, apart from solid time spent with the Lord in prayer, I was on the same berth with a PhD IITian, a devout religious scholar. The Lord gave me wonderful opportunity to witness to him about the true and living God, the Lord Jesus Christ. I preached the gospel with my life changing testimony. And committed him to the Lord for the further follow up. At least, the seed was sown, only God will now have to cause the growth. Later, he was added into my special personal prayer list. To me, by faith, he is already my brother and a believer. Time will confirm; how, when and where, only God knows.

Besides accomplishing all the main objectives and beyond for the very purposes I visited Chennai, the Lord graced me to experience and enjoy Him in a very special way all throughout the journey. It was such a pleasant trip indeed, both in the physical realm and also in the spiritual realm.

God's plan and sovereign arrangements are always the best. No matter how odd and untimely it may seem to be in mere mortal eyes, His ways are always the best. And following Him as He leads the way is a pleasant life journey. 

Where Jesus is, there is joy and pleasure! A pleasant trip is a trip ordained and led by the Lord Jesus Christ!

An August August

It is an august beginning of the month of August. About more than half a year ago, in my visit to Chennai, I somehow was led to look for land to invest on it, though I did not have anything to invest at that moment. My intuition revealed to me vividly that I would be investing about a million INR on land. I even went to look for plots on sale in the vicinity of the area where the literature office is located. But only to be disappointed by the unimaginable high pricing. And I almost gave up even the thought of it any longer.

Half a year later, I was miraculously led to a brother whom I led to the Lord ten years ago who is into real estate. He introduced me to his company's newly launched project. Though I did not take any step then, later, after much consideration, prayer and fellowship, I and my wife has the peace to go ahead, which we did. For the Lord has blessed us sufficient for the intuitively led plan of investment.

Just yesterday, I landed in Chennai again and finished the whole process of registration. Every step was sovereignly ordained by the Lord. It happened step by step and so smoothly that I hardly can believe that it really did happen. Though this is a mere physical land, the hand of God behind the scene is quite amazing. It is indeed an august moment to experience the Lord's blessings again.

Besides, on my previous trip, the gospel on love, light and life preached to a colleague on a way to see the aforementioned plots indeed believed and promised to get baptised. As promised for baptism, if I ever come back again for the land acquisition, the said sister got baptised as prayed for and planned. Even this too happened so smoothly that I can hardly believe my eyes. It is inwardly assured that all these were sovereignly predestinated by the Lord; all happened in the nick of time.

What future may hold is all upto the Lord. But the blessings of the Lord is bountiful and often miraculous, though there is hardly any miracle per se. The spiritual blessings of the experiences and enjoyments of the Lord through all these minute physical things too are marvelous. These are but small concrete incentives that complements the Lord's spiritual blessings. With all these experiences in these days, at this month, is indeed an august August. 

For all these and many more blessings to follow, I worship the Lord and all His ways of blessings. An august August to begin with.

Experience : Tree of Knowledge

Today the Lord gave me an experience of the tree of knowledge, which is deadness and darkness, for a while. 

A month ago I had so much peace and joy to invest on plots in NH4 and I did so with much prayer and in  oneness with my wife. Everything was so joyful at the very thought of it, and in the very act of executing the planned investment, including all the payments and registration processes. It has been a joyful moment and it should ever be. 

But the attack of the enemy was eminent. Though I intend to keep this matter personal, but the brother who helped me in all the processes leaked the news in joy to other brothers when we met them. Though it has been a joyful news indeed, to be able to own lands here, the enemy was not joyful at all. He incited all negative thoughts in comparison with some other subordinate deals. With all these thoughts on the tree of knowledge killed my spirit almost. I was filled with doubts and darkness for a while. But as I knelt in prayer, the Lord reminded me that everything I did was in utter consent and agreements to all terms and conditions laid down by the company even before I ventured to invest on it. Everything I did was with full agreements on all the terms and conditions and payments plan. The Lord reminded me that I should not pay heed to all post thoughts and analysis based on the tree of knowledge of good and evil, right or wrong, but to the tree of life that led me to do the investment. Even if I had been cheated, though not, the God who led me through is the God of righteousness and I should not worry a bit. Even if something has gone wrong without my consent, I should not bother a bit. For the Lord is the sovereign one who rules above all.

After this prayer, the attack of the enemy on deadness and negative feelings left me completely. When it should be a joyful day, the enemy wanted to turn it into a dreadful day. I must never eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but always of life. It was indeed a sweet experience to un-experience the the experience of the tree of knowledge. Always eat and live by the tree of life.

Time with the New Ones

Under the banner of service in the Body, often I reckon shepherding can be done by any member. Yes indeed, but the there is a point to remember. Once we beget spiritual babies they are literally and spiritually our spiritual babies. Just like a mother begets a child and nourishes the child, we must nourish our children. Though all mothers knows how to nourish their own children, they may not be able to nourish the children of others as  good as they nourish their own children. The same case applies with our spiritual babies.

The Lord has been blessing and gracing me to nourish some spiritual children. But as time went by, more spiritual children were added and I could find no time to care for them adequately. Slowly I brought in some brothers to coordinate with me to carry out the shepherding and gradually I backed out so that they could continue, and I can beget more children. This process went on for quite sometime. But the time came when those brothers could not continue with it for some reasons. So I have to pick up the burden all over again. 

The last three weekends was on revisiting and reviving these new ones. It was such a grace to be able to shepherd new ones of various kind. The wisdom and the grace of the Lord is required, without which, instead of shepherding they would be starved spiritually. One deep lesson I learned, the care that a mother can give, no one else can give. Our spiritual children must be shepherded by us, as much as possible, until they grow to maturity when they can shepherd other in turn as we do. I lack in shepherding them unto maturity, so when I handed them over to other saints to follow up it did not work.

The time spent with the new ones was joyful and fruitful. Besides, as we went out to preach the gospel the anointing of the Lord was so sweet. Whomever we met were sons of peace; we preached the gospel and they received the Lord. It was such a blessed time spending with the new ones. More lessons I need to learn is how to make all these new ones a solid remaining fruits for the church. This matter, the Lord has to train and perfect me.

Lord, make me a faithful and fruitful shepherd.

The Call of the Needy

Yesterday was a day I set aside for a "holiday" of rest after lunch. The whole week I have been so busy and the only time I could steal out for myself was on Saturday after lunch. As I was eating my lunch I received a phone call from a sister who is a younger sister of one of the brothers in the church life. In fact, it was surprising to receive such a call as it was very unexpected. As I attended the call, it was a request for an emergency fellowship for something that the sisters have been going through. Without much further consideration, the Lord impressed me deep within that this is the call of the saints in need and as a responsible brother I must  take it seriously and attend to the call for fellowship. Then I decided to visit them and did visit them.

The Lord has been leading them through various thick and thin, and they were at a juncture where they desperately needed a help, though the nature of their problems were physical, but their intrinsic need was a spiritual supply.  After listening to whatever they were going through I fellowshipped with them the Christian life as a meal offering life as in Leviticus 2, and the need to be mingled with God more and the need to be baked in the oven to be a cake for the meal offering that would satisfy God and the offerer. The fellowship was so anointed and sweet that it went on and on. When I finally felt the burden within me has been dispensed, we prayed together and I left. It was four hours of fellowship.

Today the sister came to the Lord's table meeting for the first time. Whatever reason that have hindered her from coming before has been dealt with. In fact, her brother and I have been praying for this sister for quiet sometime now. The Lord is sovereign and He did things in His own time. His timing is the best. Had she come before, the feeling and impact of coming to the Lord's table meeting would have been entirely different. Now, after going through many things and learning many spiritual lessons, not just the matter of relationship and fellowship with the Lord but also with the local church according the truth of the Bible, it was mush more meaningful. And I trust their coming is out of the Lord's leading and also the answer to the prayers of the saints.