Serving in One Accord

Freshly, I have been learning what the Lord has been teaching me since He recovered me into the normal church life, the universal and eternal truth of "serving in one accord." This is a very important lesson, but not easily learned. The whole lot of Christianity has failed in this lesson, so are the myriad of divisions, in the form of denominations. Not that I have learnt it, but that I am still learning it.

Last week, officially, I had to make very important decision on operational matters. That would effectively decide how we would go on in our service in India. For this, I went before the Lord again and again in prayer, to get the Lord's feeling concerning the matter. One night as I was praying for this one matter only, the Lord gave me a clear sky and instructed me to write a mail with certain content. The next day, I fellowshiped with my coordinator and drafted the mail. The mail was sent to the main serving ones involved for their correction and confirmation. With a couple of adjustments, we all were in one accord to take the next step forward, and the mail was sent. Few days later, the reply of the mail was amazing. The Lord really blessed our serving in one accord. The joy is not because of the positive response, but the oneness that was behind the scene. The outcome was secondary, but what impressed me most was the working together in one accord, and yes, that produces the good result.

Similarly, in another matter of budgeting for an official work, the Lord led me to experience the same thing. The result of the work was less important than the way the work was done. This is the lesson the Lord has been teaching me all these days. Serving in one accord. No matter what the work is, our service must be in one accord. This kind of service not only balances all, but also commands the Lord's blessings.

Lord. preserve me in the one accord with my fellow serving ones, and also always in the oneness of the Body of Christ.

The Satanic Lies

John 8:44

44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks it out of his own possessions; for he is a liar and the father of it.

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 Or, father of lies. Since the devil is the father of liars, he is the source of sin. The divine element of God, working as life and light within man, sets man free from the slavery of sin. But the evil element of the devil, working as sin through death and darkness within man, enslaves man to sin. The devil's nature is a lie and brings in death and darkness. With darkness is falsehood, the opposite of the truth.

Verse and Footnote from Recovery Version http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=2571

As the Lord is moving intensely in these last days, saving sinners through the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God, the enemy Satan is not silent either; he does his best to counter attack the works of God by directly or indirectly attacking the believers, either spiritually or physically or psychologically. This is my personal observation all these years of my Christian life. Every time the Lord moves, something or the other happens. If not in spirit we discern the situation, the end result will probably be, believers versus believers or the new believers closing up or fighting back for some "trivial" reason as "baits" planted by the enemy. One such very common attack is in the psychological realm.

Often the devil would whisper in the unguarded innocent ears of the saints, his famous Satanic lies, "people are not open to the gospel of Jesus Christ, they are busy with their works, they have no time for all these nuts, they are not interested, or perhaps they will fight back, and blah, blah and blah...." And he will try his best to silence the sweet voice of the gospel of Jesus Christ or forcibly stop the beautiful foot of the harbinger of the good news. At times, by inducing inward fear, outward threats or even by mental tortures. This is what he is exactly good at, in propagating his infamous Satanic lies.

Should we believe the Satanic lies? Should we dread his threats? Or should we even pay the slightest heed to it? God forbid. Lest,we be be-fooled by the Satanic lies and become his coworker of preaching the same lies. "Lord Jesus, cover us with your precious blood and save us from the Satanic lies. Instead, grace us to be effective propagator of the gospel of the kingdom of God!"

The past few weeks I have been experiencing the effectiveness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how people are waiting for years to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and His accomplished redemption at the cross. Satan somehow managed to captivate them with his lies in the cocoon of darkness, binding them to death destined for eternal perdition of the lake of fire. When I get rid of any notion of Satanic fumes and preached the gospel, people were so open to the extent that they received the Lord by calling upon the Name of Jesus Christ, believing into Him and also by being baptised into His Name. 

Two days ago I was in Delhi at the home of a very high ranking Government officer who se son was a brother in the church life and daughter too was a sister in the Lord. For over a couple of years, I have requested for a visit to their home but the answers always has been that of the Satanic lies; that their parent were not ready and that because of all the religious piety at home they would not accept the gospel, also coupled with many other excuses. Well then, to such, my reply was to pray for them, especially for their salvation and the gospel preaching at the right time. Finally that day came two days ago.

We were invited for lunch, and after lunch we were in the living room when their mother called me and my younger sister, who accompanied me to their home visit, to show us around the house. But instead, she took us to her room and opened up many matters for hour. All the pains she and what her family had been through, and how the devil, in the form of some evil spirits, attacks them, and how in spite of all the gods and goddesses she had been superstitiously and religiously devoted to, for decades, yet nothing good happen after all, in fact, the family life get worsen by the day. And how even the "pandits" could not help them all, and ran away in fear instead, on inviting them.

Finally she asked me one intriguing question, "Bhaiya, after worshipping all these gods why all these evils happens to our family?" My simple question to her question was, "Which gods?" I then preached the gospel of Jesus Christ: how the one and only true and living God became a Man in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and resurrected on the third day and became the life-giving Spirit, and how He would enter into any one who would believe into Jesus Christ  by faith. Later, she believed and received the Lord Jesus Christ, called upon the Lord Jesus' Name and read some selected Bible verse from the Hindi "Pavitra Bible" we gifted her. Quite an amazing changed indeed! 

When she narrated her story, she was almost with tears, but after receiving the Lord Jesus, she was full of joy and her face was shining with the joy of God's salvation. Later when we came out of the room to meet her daughters and a sister guest from the States, the joyful news flooded the living room. It was indeed the move of the Spirit and the answer to all the prayer of her children, especially her son, and the saints in the church life.

Praise the Lord! The Satanic lies have been exposed. All men are sinners and are eagerly waiting for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christian brothers and sisters must rise up to preach the gospel wherever God has placed them. As students in schools, colleges or universities; as working ones in offices, factories; as business men in places of business, all must preach the gospel. There is no need of so called "evangelist, pastors or priests," we all are priests of the gospel of God! 1 Peter 2:5,9. 

Defy the Satanic lies and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! Millions are waiting for the gospel! No more deception, no more delay, do it right now, right there, wherever you are, whatever you be. Preach the word in season and out of season!

2 Timothy 4:2

2 Proclaim the word; be ready in season and out of season; convict, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching.

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 Opportunely or inopportunely, whether the opportunity is convenient or inconvenient, whether you are welcome or unwelcome.    

Verse and Footnote from Recovery Version http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=2571

Fellowship : By All Means

Where there is a will, there is a way. Very much true even in spiritual pursuit. In this age where technology is at its peak, they must be utilized for all good cause. Recently, I have found WhatsApp a very good tool for fellowship with fellow believers spread across the country. Now and then, as the Lord leads, I would post some Bible verses and some light from the word of God. And I believe many have been blessed as they acknowledged it by reply chat.   

One such group is a one that connects many brothers and sisters of a particular state the Lord burdened me for, since a couple of years ago. Whenever I visited that city, I enjoyed the presence of God so much, especially the fellowship with the believers there who took the stand as a local church in that city. Now we are connected via this chat group. Now and then reading and posting gives me the same enjoyment as in fellowship face to face, in person, few years ago. What encouraged me most was the saints, especially the sisters' function in actively posting their fresh enjoyment of the Lord, mostly with strong Biblical verses to support their experiences. The love for the Lord and His word is growing in spite of the growing evil, technology has also brought in. This is like Moses catching the rod turned snake by its tail to make it a snake turned rod for carry out God's commission. The world is literally in a fingertip; use it or misuse it, it all depends on the person who uses it.

Besides technology, fellowshipping face to face in person gave me immense pleasure too. Today the Lord graced me with two important fellowships with two brothers at different times. Both have similar case going on, relating to their personal lives, their work and most importantly their marriage as they are aging a double score. To both the principle remains the same; to have a proper heart towards the Lord and love Him above all, to spend time in the word and in prayer and be in fellowship of the Body. And that everything depends on God's blessings and God's blessings depends on what kind of person we are. Once our heart is proper and our person is set right, God's blessings in every realm will be bestowed. Then we prayed together for a fresh and new beginning in our Christian life in the church life. Fellowship opens many ways....

So fellowship, and be in fellowship by all means. Via phone, via mail or via chat group. Be in fellowship with the Lord vertically and also be in fellowship with the saints horizontally. Yes, fellowship by all means.

Proper Person

Acts 13:22

And when He had deposed him, He raised up David for them as king, to whom also He testified and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who will do all My will.

But now your kingdom will not continue. Jehovah has sought a man according to His heart for Himself, and Jehovah has appointed him ruler over His people; for you have not kept that which Jehovah commanded you. 1 Samuel 13: 14

God has a will to carry out on this earth in this age. But how He will do it, and when and through whom He will do it, all depends upon God Himself finding a proper person. What a person does is not as important as who is the person who does it. The being of a person is more important than the work the person does. Therefore, gaining a proper person is of utmost important for God to carry out His will.

As I was praying and reconsidering the service that the Lord has assigned me to and has been gracing me to carry it out, one thing that impressed me most was "the persons of the serving ones." Improper person can never do a proper work, no matter how qualified he may be. In fact, improper person not only slows down the  work of God but also destroys them. Especially in the Lord's service, things cannot be done as a "job." No man can serve God for money as in secular fields. Of course, God will sovereignly and sufficiently take care of the serving ones' need, but the serving one must be proper in his being as to serve God and not the service for survival.

Down the years, I have been learning this lesson the long and hard way round. Some people have come in and gone, as we gave opportunities to all. And one common thing of all those who came and gone are of 'improper persons" with improper heart towards God and His service. Whereas, the proper ones are graced by the Lord to remain faithful and fruitful till date, and are always open to  the Lord for any adjustment and perfecting. Their focus for sure is not money, nor do they serve as a "job" but as a service to the Lord. And the confirmation is the fruit of their labor being manifested time after time.

Thus, to further carry on in the Lord's service, my prayer is that I myself be dealt with, trained and perfected for the Lord's service. And that more and more proper serving ones be brought into the Lord's service; to double and multiply the Lord's work. As David's epitaph was "a man after God's own heart," so may all serving ones of the Lord be "men after God's own heart." Yes, dealt with and stripped off of all "improperness" to be proper person, bringing in much "profit" to the Lord's service!

Lord, make me a proper person, even a man after Your heart, for Your service.

Saved by Grace!

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; Rom. 2:8

Today as I was enjoying the Lord's presence in my time with the Lord, a sister called me informing of a new one they met in their gospel preaching and that they would bring him over for more fellowship on the gospel of salvation. 

Later, it turned out to be a middle aged man from Punjab from a religious background who had been seeking for God. As the Spirit moved and we preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to him; of how the One and True Living God became a Man in Jesus Christ who died for the redemption of our sins and was resurrected to become the Life-giving Spirit to impart the divine life of God to whoever would believe into Jesus Christ. He simply believed and prayed the sinner's prayer to receive the Lord. On further explanation from the word of God from Mark 16:16 on believing and baptism, the Spirit took control of the situation and led him to baptism. O what a glorious deed it was! Only a sinner saved by grace indeed! We sang this hymn over and over again. 

God has done everything that needed to be done for the redemption of fallen mankind. Only what is required is man's simple faith to believe into Jesus Christ. No merit have none, to deserve God's salvation. But God in His great mercy saved man by grace to those who simply believe. Only the blind religious people have conditions for salvation according to their superstitious and religious concept about God's salvation. In fact, many a times mixing up salvation by grace, with the growth in life that follows salvation; erroneously bringing in the steps after salvation, before salvation itself. O what a grace to be even clear about salvation by grace.  "Jesus hath found me, happy my case;

I now am a sinner saved by grace!"

Saved by Grace

https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/311

1	Naught have I gotten but what I received; Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed; Boasting excluded, pride I abase; I’m only a sinner saved by grace!
	Only a sinner saved by grace! Only a sinner saved by grace! This is my story, to God be the glory,   I’m only a sinner saved by grace!
2	Once I was foolish, and sin ruled my heart, Causing my footsteps from God to depart; Jesus hath found me, happy my case; I now am a sinner saved by grace!
3	Tears unavailing, no merit had I; Mercy had saved me, or else I must die; Sin had alarmed me, fearing God’s face; But now I’m a sinner saved by grace!
4	Suffer a sinner whose heart overflows, Loving his Savior to tell what he knows; Once more to tell it, would I embrace— I’m only a sinner saved by grace!

David's Heart

Acts 13:22

And when He had deposed him, He raised up David for them as king, to whom also He testified and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who will do all My will.

But now your kingdom will not continue. Jehovah has sought a man according to His heart for Himself, and Jehovah has appointed him ruler over His people; for you have not kept that which Jehovah commanded you. 1 Samuel 13: 14  

In my pursuit of the Life-study messages on 1 and 2 Samuel, the Lord touched me so much in the matter of "David's heart." David, while being chosen by God was tagged with and whose epitaph today is "a man according to God's heart." Indeed he was, as such a man, he honored God to the uttermost and respected God's sovereign arrangement. Though he was anointed as a king after God rejected Saul, he never fought to claim for the throne. He left the matter of being enthroned, to the Lord in His own time. For fifteen years he had been wandering like an estranged vagabond in his own land where he was anointed to be king, and that too running for his own life as Saul determined to kill him. Although, God gave David the opportunity in which he could strike Saul to death and claim the throne of Israel, he never did it. But he honored "God's anointed" and dared not cast his hand upon Saul.

Later, when God allowed Saul and his son Jonathan to be killed in the battle field, an Amalekite came to bear "glad tiding" of Saul's death according to his own version, expecting a reward from David assuming "his enemy" was killed. But David's reaction was the opposite. He charged the harbinger instead, questioning, "How is it that you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Jehovah’s anointed?" 2 Samuel 1:14. And did away with the Amalekite who reported the news of  Saul's tragic death.

Similarly David killed the ones who killed the kinsmen of Saul who thought by so doing, they bore good news to David. In these cases, in  David's heart there was no traces of hatred or enmity towards Saul at all, for whatever reason.Though Saul did his best to kill David, David did his best to preserve Saul. Here we see David's heart.

This matter of "David's heart" was a driven into my heart, to be such a man of God all the days of my life. Today, in my service and in my living, wherever the Lord placed me, I must always honor the Lord's sovereignty and never fight for "my rights." In due time, the Lord will do what He has determined to do. He does not need man's natural maneuvering. though He need man's cooperation. I must be graced by the Lord to be such a man who has "David's heart" too, "to be a man after God's heart." May the Lord grace me so. 

Shepherding : Rewards

The Lord is so human yet divine. He nourishes and also cherishes. Similarly in shepherding there is the cherishing part and the nourishing part.

Few months ago, the Lord graced me and my wife to bear the burden of some saints in their spiritual matters as well as in their personal matters. We did the nourishing of supplying the spiritual fellowship they needed and at the same time we also helped them in whatever way we can, physically, in fact, financially, as a part of cherishing them in humanity and taking care of their urgent physical need. We did it in prayer and in one accord.

Of late, the Lord encouraged us so much witnessing how these ones we were graced to shepherd were turning out to be so useful in the Lord's hand, and instrumental in bringing new ones, unbelievers, into salvation with baptisms. To me this is a "reward" the Lord encouraged us with, to go on shepherding.

In another case, we did our best to help financially a sister for her daughter's boarding and tuition fee as there was the urgent need to prepared for an academic exam. This week I was so encouraged to hear the excellent result this sister had achieved. Though it was a little painful to assist at that time as we ourselves were a little tight financially. However, because of the urgency, we did our best to help. Now, this news definitely is very rewarding, and it was worth the little pain we underwent.

Though the reward of all our laboring in the Lord will be on "that day," still the Lord rewards us with incentives to encourages us to go on serving as priest of the gospel of God, and as royal priest to minister Christ to people in need.

Lord, enlarge my capacity to be able to shepherd more and be shepherded by You more.