Witness

As I shepherded a new believer, his sharing on how he was inspired by a political leader of different faith doing so well with a global appraisal and a national applause, which even brought him to reconsider his newly found faith. Here is the need for stability in faith in Christ Jesus, at the same time, there is also an urgent need for a living witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. This made me consider the word "witness" in the light of the Scripture, and thus is this article.

Acts 1:8

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Witnesses: Lit., martyrs; those who bear a living testimony of the resurrected and ascended Christ in life, differing from preachers who merely preach doctrines in letters. In His incarnation Christ carried out His ministry on the earth by Himself, as recorded in the Gospels, to sow Himself as the seed of the kingdom of God only in the Jewish land. In His ascension He would carry out His ministry in the heavens through these martyrs, in His resurrection life and with His ascension power and authority, as recorded in the Acts, to spread Himself as the development of the kingdom of God from Jerusalem, as a beginning, unto the uttermost part of the earth, as the consummation of His ministry in the New Testament. All the apostles and disciples in the Acts were His martyrs, His witnesses, of this kind (reference 8c). See notes 113 in ch. 23 and 161 in ch. 26.

A normal Christian life is a life of "My witnesses", bearing a living testimony of the resurrected and ascended Christ in life. Any living falling short of this is abnormal. "My witnesses" is Christ's witnesses and a Christian life is such. Whatever one is, wherever one works, he must be a witness. Christ, the Head, has placed each member of the Body according to His sovereignty. And He also has given gifts according to the measure of each one. Without any envy or striving, one must diligently live the Lord and function according to His measure. Then the Lord has a way to fulfill His purpose on this earth; this is the very meaning of our existence.

The word "Witness" means so much to me. It can be a witness of the Lord or even witness of anything else too. The hue and cry of these days politicking in India does have serious impact on the minds of people. If one is not solid and stabilized in his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, witnesses of other faiths does affect them. The mere pomp and show of some leaders in different religious faith keeps the novices wonder if those too were of the living God. In fact, it is, but not necessarily a matter of faith attached to. God gives rain and shine to all. He appoints leaders which we are urged to pray for, even gentile kings. They may not be believers but God uses them to display His multifarious wisdom. King Cyrus, the Prince of Persia, was used by Jehovah to trumpet the return of the Israelite diaspora to Jerusalem to rebuilt the ruined temple. That does not necessarily mean king Cyrus was a believer in Jehovah; may or may not be, only God knows. But the danger is in attaching "witness" to king Cyrus rather than the invisible God behind kind Cyrus who made him a harbinger of such a herald.

Having observed thus, I do pray that the Lord may raise up many of His children to be on the level of "king Cyrus" in status and position, and at the same time be a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. To me, such is also effective in reaching out to all, especially among the gentiles. A Christian should have a good testimony before God and man; in all fields, be it academic, professional or business. Even to this regard, I pray, if the Lord wills, I would pay any price for such, trusting the Lord's grace and blessing.

To be "My witnesses", of the Lord Jesus Christ to all the nation!

Bear One Another's Burdens

Galatians 6

2 Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ completely.10 So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do what is good toward all, but especially toward those of the household of the faith. 

This is what the Lord has been teaching me these days. My Christian life is becoming more subjective than ever before. Besides, the Lord has blessed me richly and also graced me accordingly to be able to burden the saints' burdens.

Recently the Lord has been dealing quite severely with two saints in a very particular way. And He graced me to be with them through all their thick and thin. We have had a lot of fellowship, prayer and considerations concerning their matters. And it was amazing, how the Lord led us step by step, to solve one problem after another. The Lord has been so subjective. I can only glorify the Lord in His sovereignty over minute detail, all for the purpose of gaining them, their inward being and their outward living. 

After certain amount of dealing and breaking; and perhaps, growing a little bit more, they began to function like "Nathanel" in introducing the Lord Jesus to some of their colleagues. And more so it will be, for this very purpose is the Lord's dealing in them.

While bearing the same burden with them, I myself learn and gain Christ a lot. In fact, it strengthened my faith in the Lord and helped me to function more in shepherding not only them, but their colleagues too. This is an opportunity the Lord often arranges; when such knocks at my door, I should not shy away from it. Rather, grasp it at all cost. This is a blessing in disguise. And especially that of the household of faith. 

As being a human being, sometimes, doubts do arises as to go ahead or not. No doubts, it is crystal clear that as believers one should help one another and bear one another's burden. But what if an advantage is taken of? That's the Lord's business, He will righteously handle it. But my responsibility is to heed to the Lord's word, to bear one another's burdens. Come what may, in bearing such burdens, the gaining of the Lord and the experiences the Lord blessed is much more worth than the burden itself per se. 

This is the lesson, my wife and I are learning intensely these days. Thank God for the opportunity. O that I may learn this lesson thoroughly well: to bear one another's burdens, especially of the household of the faith.

Miracles?

When in life one is going through troubled times, hardship, trials, sickness and even death; one often look to the Lord for miracle of deliverance and healing of some sort. Genuine healing and work of God, I do not deny, but petitioning for miracles when the Lord ordained such incidents to deal with our natural man and gain us, is not called for. If the so called miracles have to happen, all the lessons hidden behind the incidents would never be learned. In fact, the greatest miracle would be not just to bypass the situations but to go through it and come out triumphantly in Christ. Such miracle even the devil will tremble and dread it to the uttermost.

In recent days I have had much fellowship with some saints, particularly in a case where business plan went upside down, yielding a proportionate loss instead of the vainly hoped gain. Every time we fellowshipped the Lord showed one step ahead, not in a way of miracle outwardly sending money from nowhere, but by righteousness and life. A heavy and important decision was taken, in fellowship and prayer, and that led forward a recovery a step each time. Besides, the greatest miracle that I witnessed was the saints losing all their natural self-confidence and trusting in the Lord much more; praying much more, loving the Lord much more and above all, their whole being recovered for the church life! What a miracle this indeed is? What is impossible with man become possible with God! To me, this is a miracle; gaining Christ and being gained by Christ.

Yet another "miracle" may be, I experienced and enjoyed the anointing of the Lord when I fellowship and prayed with the saints. The bigger the problem or matter is, the better the experience, the sweeter the fellowship and the stronger the anointing. Bearing the burden of the saints as though it is mine own, sympathizing with them, encouraging them and standing with them, I feel I am more blessed. Instead of "deliverance" physically, the experiences of Christ in a deeper and richer way is the "miracle." 

Having learned and tasted this "miracle" I would always, as much as the Lord allows, open myself to the saints in need and give my time for fellowship and prayer. Every problem the saints brought in, is a blessing in disguise, a precious gift from the Lord. Only the fools will bypass it; the wise will look to the Lord for the spiritual lessons beneath the problem, whatsoever. Though time, money and energy has to be invested for such, it's worth it. The end result outweigh the investment. 

Lord, grace me to face any challenges in life, be it mine or others, as long as it is from You.

Traffic Jam

Today afternoon I was on my way to pick up a family for a prayer meeting cum love-feast dinner tonight. Though I started on time I was stuck up in a traffic jam at its peak hour where five main roads converged. When I started from home I was about to take a different route that would by pass this road, but by reflex action I just took this one and securely locked up in a traffic jam. I had no other choice; I could not turn back, nor to the left, nor to the right, and neither could I go forward. Just stuck in the traffic jam. I guess the longest jam I ever experienced in Gurgaon. What else could I do? Time was running out, moreover, my plan was to be in time for the Tuesday prayer meeting tonight with the new family. It looked like the enemy was not happy. I just called on the Lord and prayed - a good time for prayer, not for the traffic, but the time created by the traffic for prayer.

Once the traffic was cleared I went to an area which I thought was the address for pick up point. But I had to drive merry-go-round to find the exact address. Another lesson learned; I should not assume things  but always check and cross-checked to confirm it first.

This reminds me of certain situations in Christian life where often we get stuck up in "traffic jam" of life. Whether by mistake or coincidentally, life just get stuck up. Mostly allowed by the Lord, so that He may have a way to break through into our inward being and break loose all self-confidence, just to faithfully trust in Him only. 

Such "traffic jam" are mostly and sovereignly ordained by the Lord to get through into a believer's being. This happens to me oftentimes, for instance, today's traffic jam. On the one hand it taught me precious lessons of life and yet on the other hand, the Lord has a bit more ground to work Himself into me. For, all the reasons behind this, too, is out of my own initiation, perhaps, out of a good heart of learning to be hospitable to new ones and trying to walk the extra mile of caring for them.Nevertheless, such lessons always comes with a price.

Overall I thank the Lord for His sovereignity, or else I would never learn something new, and may never write this blog. Thank you for the "traffic jam!" Though I don't look forward to it nor welcome it again, but I definitely would not deny the lessons and price tag with it, if it does.

Deadness

Two week ago, I enjoyed and experienced the Lord's speaking concerning the Nazarite vow in Numbers 6. The main point that I experienced was the matter of deadness. 6:6 says, "All the days that he separates himself to Jehovah he shall not come near a dead person."

It was the Lord's day morning. I was not really in a "mood" because I did not excercise my spirit initially. But as the meeting began and we started singing hymns, my spirit was stirred up. Before this, my deadness let me decide in my dead mind that I was useless and I need not function in the meeting at all. But as we sang, and exercised our spirits, the Spirit really revived me. Within seconds, I was resurrected and felt very lively. My spirit was fanned into flame. Right after the Lord's table meeting, without any second thought, I stood up and prophesied on the matter of consecration, especially on "Nazarite Vow." 

As a consecrated believer I must hate death and have nothing to do with anything dead. Deadness is more dangerous than sins. For sins could be redeemed with the blood of the Lord Jesus, but once deadness invades, it is just dead. Deadness issue from Satan himself and is manifested in many forms. Even the church of God is under the constant attack of the enemy's darts of deadness. Some of the common ways of spreading are gossiping, backbiting, loose talks, criticisms etc.. As consecrated believer, since our whole being is consecrated, we must give no room for the hearing ear and the seeing eyes, and not be contaminated by these forms of deadness. Instead, be exercised in spirit to receive life and minister life to one another.

Following this prophesying, some saints followed suit to confirm the very matter of deadness spreading through careless talks and how they consecrated themselves not to give heed to any of loose talks. Neither receiving nor spreading death. But be exercised and filled in Spirit to minister life to one another. 

The prophesying was so time, so healthy and so enjoyable. I personally could sense what the Lord did among us guarding us against the attacks of the enemy from deadness. 

Lord, All the days of my life, I separate myself to Jehovah, and may I not come near a dead person.

Lord, Preserve me in Your life, fill me with your life and may Your life overflow!

Lemon Juice

These day we have been drinking a lot of lemon juice; mostly for health reason and also to beat the heat. Every time I made lemon juice, my daughter would stand by me watching the way I made it, if she was around. It has been a refreshing juice for all the family members, in fact, lemon juice is our favorite drink; natural, healthy and available. 

One day my daughter served me a class of lemon juice in my office. She came, exclaiming with joy, "Daddy, I  made lemon juice for you!" I was surprised that she could very well made the juice, just as tasty as I used to make. Just to confirm, I asked her a couple of times if she really made it. Thus to convince me, she would show it to me how she made it. She held my hand and took me to the kitchen. There she demonstrated how she made it. Wow, children learn so fast, and they learn it from their parent.

This is a good reminder of being a pattern to our children. Every movement, every word, every thing under the roof is like a ready-air ever ready to fill the empty and hungry jars. Home is the best school for kids to learn lessons of life. What they will be, will be determined by where they live and how they are brought up. So if I want my children to be godly, I myself must be godly; if I want them to love the Lord and pursue the Lord, I myself must love and pursue the Lord. What I desire them to be, that I must be, as a pattern. Of course, the Lord's mercy is also needed to accomplish this. But, as a father, I must bear the fullest responsibility with my wife to be a healthy pattern of a normal God-man life.

Just as much as we need lemon juice to quench our thirst, so much the more, we need the reality of lemon juice, the Spirit, to quench all our spiritual thirsts, under the hot and hard weather with worsening climatic changes of the world. Only the Spirit, the live-giving Spirit, can quench all our thirsts. We must come to Him day by day, to drink Him.

From this common and simple juice, so much of life lessons to be learned. Praise the Lord that I am learning it; how to make lemon juice and enjoy lemon juice; teach others to do the same. 

Only the Spirit is the real life juice that satisfies all hunger and thirst. 

Lord, fill me with Your Spirit day by day!

Praise Him!

Last Wednesday morning a brother called me up to present a brief overview of a portion on "Praising" from brother Watchman Nee's book. Though I read this message already, it did not impress me as much as it did, when I read it over and over again. The revelation concerning "praising" never dawned on me before this message sank into my being. 

"Praise is the highest work carried out by God's children. We can say that the highest expression of a saint's spiritual life is his praise to God. God's throne is the highest point in the universe, yet He sits "enthroned upon the praises of Israel" (Psa. 22:3). God's name and even God Himself are exalted through praise". Lesson 16, Messages for Building Up the New Believers, Vol. 1.

The Lord graciously spoke to me through my own pursuit of the message; I was so joyful to learn the hidden depth of the Lord's word in relation to praising Him! Praise Him because He is ever praiseworthy! The message overview was so enjoyable and I myself was very much supplied. Later, I wrote to a brother whom the Lord burdened me to write on the same line: my own enjoyment as a fellowship to him.

Praise the Lord for His sovereignty!

Come what may, we must always praise the Lord. When our prayer seems to be unanswered, or we are unable to pray, we must exercise our spirit of faith and praise the Lord for what He is. No matter what our situation is, He remains the same, He is ever praise worthy. We praise Him not because of our good situation, not even because of the evil ones, whatever may be our inward and outward condition before God and man, He is still and ever praise worthy. For this we must praise the Lord!

When we praise Him as such, victory is ours. The fiery darts of Satan have been poisoning us, nevertheless, its sting can be undone and overcome by praising Him. Sometimes, we don't understand many mysteries in our lives and the environment surrounding us, sometimes we go through much pain and internal bleeding within, which are often hard to share to any one else except to the Lord. But even at such times, we must offer a sacrifice of praise to the Lord. Praises issuing out of the pains, hardships, troubles and trials we are going through are the genuine praises as "sacrifice of praises". The Lord is pleased at such praises.    

Tonight as we prayed for all the new contacts and released our burden, the Lord led me minister again on this matter of praising. The result of it was full of praises and hallelujahs! Not because of my sharing, but because of the Lord's speaking and revelation through the word. The prayer meeting reach its peak, and it was a glorious prayer meeting.

Right after this I received a call from a brother who has been through "the valley of the shadow of death" from all angles of life, to the extent that the fellowship was in tears, out of a deep pain within. My joyful encouragement was on the same message of "praising" even in the midst of much sufferings, offering a sacrifice of praise! The fellowship concluded with praises and hallelujahs, for the Lord is sovereign over all and He is ever praise worthy! 

Praise Him! Not just with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; Not just with psalteries and harps and stringed instrument; Nor just with claps and shouts and dances. But much more with tears and pains and agony! That's the highest form of praise, the most genuine praise, straight from the heart; sacrifice of praises!