Sandals

Last week I intended to spend the whole evening in prayer and I did enjoy time with the Lord when I received a message on my smartphone to go for a home meeting. If any believer asked for fellowship I would never say no as I reckon that as the Lord's leading. 

In the home meeting the Lord gave me the word in Luke 15 concerning the famous parable "The Prodigal Son".  As I was ministering the burden of the parable, how God, the Father, loved us unconditionally beyond our imagination, and how He shepherded us in love and tender care even when we were lost in sin. The materials given by the Father to the son touched me so deeply.

Luke 15:22

But the father said to his slaves, Bring out quickly the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

Footnote from the Recovery version Bible, Sandals: Signifying the power of God's salvation to separate the believers from the dirty earth. Both the ring and the sandals were signs of a free man. The adornment, consisting of the robe on the body, the ring on the hand, and the sandals on the feet, allowed the poor prodigal to match his rich father and qualified him to enter the father's house and feast with the father. God's salvation adorns us with Christ and the Spirit that we may enjoy the riches in His house.

Sandals are put on the foot mostly for two reasons: 

1. to protect the legs from the dirt, thorns and thistle of the sinful world 
2. to give a solid and strong base for standing and walking

These two points were a revelation to me as I ministered the word. I need the Lord as my Sandals to keep me and protect me from the dirt and sins of this sinful world. I cannot protect myself nor can anyone do it for me, but only the Lord as my Sandals can protect, prevent and preserve me from anything of Satan, sin  and the world. So I need to put my Sandals on every day, every moment of my life on this earth.

Besides, only the Lord is my Sandals upon Whom I stand, and in Whom and through Whom I walk the path He laid for me on this earthly journey. Without my Sandals on, I cannot walk nor even stand for long. My Sandals gives me the grace to walk and walk unto the destiny.

That home meeting was truly of the Lord; the guest and the host, we all enjoyed the Lord's ministering through His speaking.

As the Father God has given us Sandals, let us put on Him, Christ as our Sandal, everyday and all the day of our Christian life. Not merely for protection from things negative, but much more for the accomplishment of things positive; living and walking in Christ for the fulfillment of God eternal economy. 

Function in the Body

Every member of the Body has each specially assigned function. When all member functions, that body is healthy. And no one can replace another one's function, if it does, it only invites trouble and even harm to the body itself.

This is the burden of the God-ordained way of carrying out the Lord's work. For this, we brothers in the church started praying personally, and also corporately once a week for over an hour. And using every opportunity to dispense the Lord's burden of "all functioning." Praise the Lord for this way of leading in the Body!

Even in my marriage life I discovered that I cannot replace my wife's function, nor can she, mine. We both function as God ordained and help one another. Whenever, with my good intention, I tried to replace my wife's function in anything it turned out to be a disaster. Her function is superb, so is mine. And that makes us a couple- husband and wife, when we both function according to our measure, not beyond nor below.

This same lesson I am implementing in the official duty that I am apportioned to; allowing every serving ones to function as they should. Though I can do many things which others are doing, if not better, still I have to restrain myself from not replacing anyone's function even if I have to wait and hold my breath for a while until the job is done.

Similarly I apply the same rule to my family in children's function. To each in my family we have our assigned portion and I would not replace anyone's portion nor anyone to replace another one's. My son has to do his part, my daughters their parts and my wife, her part, and me, mine. Only when in need, will there be assistance to one another.

As this matter of the functions of each member are implemented there will be a genuine revival among the children of God, and God will have a way to accomplish His eternal economy. Surely, anything that hinders the Lord's move, even Christianity will be dealt with. The killing of the spiritual function of the believers by hierarchy or religious organization surely hinders the Lord's move on the earth today. Such system must not be tolerated in any way if we care for the Lord's interest. The Lord builds up His Body through the members of His Body, by Him as the Head supplying to each member according to their portion.

In the church I am beginning to see the blessing of each one functioning and the fruit thereby.

Lord, recover every member's function in the Body!

Lessons of Life : Gospel Preaching

The Lord's speaking these days has been on the new revival for the building up of the church by carrying out the god-ordained way. I have been so much helped personally that I have the burden and made resolution in my heart to preach the gospel to at least ten people a week. For this, Saturday afternoon was separated absolutely. And the Lord was faithful in honoring the burdened He bestowed.

Last week I learned a very important lesson in gospel preaching. The last two persons I preached the gospel to were young men from a strong religious background. After the presentation of the gospel they stated comparing Christ with their gods and goddesses and raised up a very common question about eating meat which they considered as "sin." Well, I always would do my best to answer, at the same time not enter into argument if different opinion arises. Somehow, as they began to despise the Lord Jesus and the Bible just because it approves or did not prohibit the eating of meat, I just felt not to enter into further argument. But finally and solemnly told them to turn to Jesus whenever and wherever they feel the need for Him after they would have exhausted all other "gods."  With this I left, and it was late and was indeed time for me to leave as other saints were waiting for me to go back. But they requested if I could stay back for a while and "debate?" But I felt it futile and left.

But later I felt, I should not have entered into unnecessary defense on non-vegetarianism and perhaps, should be more patient to hear them out, more of what they have to offer. I was not fully happy as I went back home and could only pray that the Lord would somehow someday convict them. But I learned a lesson, to be patient and not to enter into any argument of right or wrong, but only minister Christ as the divine life to give life to mortal man.

This week, I enjoyed preaching the gospel to as many as ten people. Out of these are a group of five professional who heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and prayed the sinner's prayer. They all are highly educated North Indians, vessels for the Lord Jesus Christ. It was such a joy to minister the divine life to them. They were very convinced and I committed them to the Lord in prayer that all of them would have the subjective and personal experience of the full salvation of God. 

By and large, I learned a lot from the gospel preaching and am still learning. Gospel preaching is always a win-win case; nothing to lose, only gain.

Transformation

All negative things in the universe have been attributed to Satan. But the fact is,  the Lord allows it so. Was Satan not defeated at the cross? Was he not judged? But how comes he is still very active in the world and even troubling many genuine believers? These are some questions many naive believers reckon as enigmas. But to those who truly know the Lord and His purpose on earth, whatever Satan does is allowed by the Lord for the good of His children.

My recent study on the life of Job impressed me deeply regarding God's work in man through Satan. God, in His multifarious wisdom, uses Satan to carry out the work of transformation among His children. Just as He allowed Satan to touch all that Job had except his life, He allows some unexpected things among the believers which in the divine sight is a glorious work of transformation. Many times, like Job, the so called "good" Christians tend to claim their natural goodness and merit as a means for God's blessing and deliverance from the processes God had originally initiated.  Even some blind and foolish Christians dared to "cast" Satan into the lake of fire, which only God could do and would ultimately do, being ignorant of the fact that God is using Satan to accomplish His plan in the believers.

By and large, God would not Himself execute the work of transformation through circumstances involving persons, matters and things, but He would definitely use the right person for the right job, Satan. No wonder, God still allows Satan to roam as a roaring lion. It is like a mother warning her naughty child with police for discipline. So also, the Lord at times allows the stripping through Satan as in Job's case to stripped us of all that is not according to His divine life and nature, so that He can transform us into His image for His expression and representation on this earth.

With this divine revelation of God's eternal plan, one can easily understand and accepts the Lord's transformation work even through Satan. Actually, Satan is the greatest fool and whatever he does is for the display of God's multifarious wisdom. Hallelujah!

Double Blessing

Since my childhood my grandparent taught me the importance of offering to the Lord for His move on the earth. Even when I grew up, the Lord has been gracing me to offer from all His blessings. And this has been one my covenants with my wife when we get married that we would offer in one accord from all the blessings we received from the Lord. And the Lord is faithfully blessing us and He also became our faithfulness in offering to Him in return. It has always been a joy to be able to offer.

Though the Old Testament speak about tithe (10% of every blessing) which many Christian religiously and sometimes superstitiously stick onto. I do not take this as a "bondage" but as a "law of life not in legality." And I do not subscribe to the 10% only doctrine either. To me, all comes from the Lord and all belongs to Him too. Not only in financial matter but also in all things including time, and energy. In fact, I rather regard this as a minimum weigh scale in principle rather than something to be bound by. 

Of late, the Lord gave me a feeling to offer more, and in fact, to double it as the majority of Christian would have done. I seriously had been considering for a while and asked the Lord to increase my faith. Surprisingly, the Lord knew my heart and my burden and made a new arrangement in my service in such a way that I can actually offer what I had been burdened to offer, doubling the percentage of what I generally used to offer.

To me, to be able to offer more is a healthy sign of being blessed by God. What do I have which I do not receive? All comes from the Lord and all should belong to Him. The need met of my own is the Lord's need met, as I am not my own but the Lord's.

Doubling the offering is doubling in blessings. 

Lord increase my faith even to offer more!

Fellowship in the Body : In Decision Making

The Body life is real, experiential and corporate. As a member in the Body, I cannot be individualistic and be aloof from the other members. Anything that I decide and do affects the other members too. If not, I am still not being builded in the Body.

Recently the Lord gave me a wonderful experience of the Body life. In my official service I can make a decision according to my discretion as deemed fit for the smooth functioning of the responsibility I am assigned to. But deep within I felt I should still check with some other members of the Body too. Though I myself feel it good to go ahead, but as I decided to get a brother as a new staff for our North India distribution, the Lord reminded me to remind him to also fellowship with the responsible brothers in his locality which he did. 

Based upon this arrangement a brother fellowship with me his feeling concerning the matter. As I considered and prayed over it, I was reminded of the need for adjustment on my side and I amen the fellowship of the brothers. Initially, it was a little difficult to reconsider what has been already considered, but based on the fellowship and feeling of a brother, a change was made. And this change turn out to be a better plan.

This fellowship was a "salvation" to me, as the adjustment made was very apt and better than my original plan. Upon consideration again it became clear to me, the Lord's leading was confirmed by the Body in fellowship. What I do not see the other members of the Body can see. And in fellowship the best plan can be obtained.

If not for the Body life I am in, there are many chances to be mislead by my own narrow understanding of the divine things. But in fellowship, the will of Lord is made clear. Ont he one hand it is of the Lord, yet on the other hand it is through the Body. The Head and the Body works together in absolute oneness for the carrying out of God's will.

As the decision was conveyed to the brother concerned, he also feel it is best. As he himself is not very clear yet as to what the leading of the Lord is. The Lord will surely lead him in a way He can gain him. Overall the fellowship we had together was very sweet and it was a shepherding to him.

Lord, keep me one with You the head and one with Your Body, at all time and in all things.

Vision Enlarged

Though the Lord tarries His coming again and we are on this earth for a moment, journeying through life unto eternity, solid establishment to carry out the Lord's work cannot be neglected either. This world is not our home indeed, but neither do we stop to live in this world till we die. So still some practical arrangement for the furtherance of the Lord's work much be carried out in this world.

In my literature service for almost a decade now, I discern it right to seriously consider our own physical establishment even in terms of assets, including property and manpower. What will happen in the future only the Lord knows, but a proper planning for now cannot be derided.  On this regard, after a long gap of prayers, I freshly pick up the burden to buy our own space for the Lord's work to go on. To this effect, I have also brought the matter in fellowship with the brothers coordinating with me. And we all feel its time now to seriously pray and plan.

God's work according to God's will and done in God's way will never lack God's supply. This will ever be my principle in any plan, be it official or personal. And I thank the Lord that He is leading me toward this direction. Yes, not just me, but with my fellow brethren. And I truly believe the Lord will lead us through.

On the ground reality, everything of my consideration is an "impossible" task, but the Lord will make it possible as He is giving me the faith to trust Him so. Land prices are exorbitantly sky high, leave alone construction and others. Still, we will pray and plan. My vision has been enlarged, to come out of my own cocoon and gaze at the God of the universe. The heavens and the earth belongs to Him, so what big deal is this petty need to Him? Once He approves, it is done. 

The plans are conceived and will pass through much prayer and fellowship. And in the process I will learn all that I need to learn.

Lord, enlarge my vision and accomplish Your plan.