Thus Saith the Lord

"Thus saith the Lord" is a famous dictum among the many spiritual Christians, as they would be led by the Lord in all things they do and say. This has an Old Testament flavor of the Lord's speaking to man and man's only responsibility is to obey "what the Lord has thus saith."

I do have a lot of experiences of the Lord's speaking now and then for matters related to my personal and family life. These are some particular and personal leading of the Lord; more of a step by step leading by the Lord. But there are broader sense in the New Testament  where the leading of the Lord is in the Body, through the Body, by the Body and for the Body. In fact, this is a much higher leading of the Lord, not just individually but corporately.

Many so called "spiritual Christians" are very individualistic today; in fact they are overladen with spiritual pride and selfishness which they will biblically justify it if confronted. At best, they are spiritually proud in their egoist spiritual pursuit, and at worst, selfishly proud in their blindness in religiosity or superstition. Oftentimes mixing up what "thus saith the Lord" with their "thus saith I" according to their whim and fancy. This is a very sad situation of Christianity today amidst the majority of the world and pleasure loving, charismatic and prosperity loving Christians. Satan has subtly intruded his wiles and lies into the so call "churches" of the day. At one end, there are the individualistically-spiritually proud and blind Christians, and at the other end is the world loving senseless nominal Christians. And Satan has his balance of laughing stock gleefully held. 

The panacea for this Satanic subtlety is the Body of Christ. Matthew 16:18b "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." The Lord will build His church composed of coordinated Christians, and Satan will attack it, but to his dismay, he will not prevail against it. This is one of the greatest prophecies of the Bible. And this is being fulfilled in the normal Christian church life today.

The two extremes among Christians as mentioned above is best balanced by the Body life. The individualistically spiritual ones must be balanced, tempered and corrected in the Body, and the worldly ones must be shepherded in the Body too.

Recently, I too had this experience of being balanced by the Body. On the one hand I had a very strong scriptural verses of "thus saith the Lord." Yet on the other hand, in fellowship with members of the Body, I was balanced. Even circumstantial experiences proved it. Had I not been in the Body life, nor listened to the fellowship in the Body, I would have gone spiritually berserk. In another case, in a certain fellowship, initially, I too was not in a positive mood to listen to the fellowship from the Body, and in fact, reacted negatively to certain speaking. However, the life in the Body has a regulation that regulated me. The sense of life in the Body is much stronger than the personal sense of life I had. Had I stood on my own understanding I would be easily misled by my own spiritual pride and blindness. But being in the Body was a "second salvation" from myself. The Lord had mercy on me, and I amen the Body's fellowship. It was in this way how "thus saith the Lord" is really heard and applied. And the ensuing result, the anointing and blessing of the Lord in being one with "thus saith the Lord" in and through the Body.

"Thus saith the Lord" today is genuinely in the Body, for the Body. 

Lord, have mercy on me to heed to what You said in the Body, through the Body and for the Body.

A Choice

Daily, hourly, one is faced with a choice, be it meager or mega, silly or serious, significant or simple, a choice has to be made now and then. God had sovereignly given full freedom of choice to mankind and would not interfere with it a bit, in His greatness. Though He desires man to choose of the tree of life, He would nevertheless, in no way force Himself into man's choice. He waits and waits until man would choose Him only.

My recent experience on trying to venture into research activity was also a matter of choice. If I had to fulfill my academic zeal, I had to invest enough time and energy to achieve what I professionally intend to and dream about. Which would mean a sacrifice of other things that I am already occupied with now. For I am just one man with only one life and I have only 24 hours a day. I cannot double myself, nor multiply my time, I am just an ordinary human, finite and limited. I cannot stand on two opposite weigh scale at the same time and balance it all the way from start to end. I only can make a choice, this or that. Yes, a choice...

When faced with such choice, my innate response was, "Lord, I only choose You and ever will." I cannot even imagine wasting my time in non-eternal things and when there are many eternal pursuits awaiting, being placed in front of me. One of the conditions for a research program was a rigorous course work even to the tune of eighteen months. To this, my simply reaction was, would I invest this many time when I can as well invest the same amount of time and pursue spiritual treasure and earn an equivalent spiritual invisible degree of the same rank, if not more? In fact, this made me reconsecrate my time to finish reading a collection of the spiritual works of brother Watchman Nee and the high peak truths released by brother Witness Lee. If time were to be invested for secular achievement, why not more for spiritual nourishment? The experience was a platform for me to make a choice. And eighteen months later, I would gladly comment, " a choice well made."

So I decided to choose the latter, and would dive into the ministry of the word. Many such cases would occur, I only have to look to the Lord and discern wisely and divinely.

Lord, preserve me to always choose the tree of life and walk in the way of life.

Me and My Family

In the recent coworkers' training held in Gurgaon the Lord's speaking was so intense and direct. Thank the Lord for the faithful ministers of the word who paid all the price to experience the Lord in various places for many years and now shepherding us through their experiences of Christ. No theory, no doctrine, but all life and living experiences. This is indeed the Lord's recovery, full of life and vitality. Many wonderful patterns to learn from. What a blessing to be in the Lord's recovery!

A brother's testimony of following the Lord wherever the Lord led him was very touching. Though his family were not at all one with him at times in following the Lord, he was faithful to the core, even against all odds, including the odd of the family. But he was determined to follow the Lord not by himself but with his whole family; that's what really impressed me. 

He could have left his family and kept moving on sans his family. But he deter not because of his family, nor did he just left his family behind. He bore his whole family in prayer until the Lord finally released all of them, and they served the Lord as a family. That was glorious. In fact, more glorious than without any opposition, especially from family.

This testimony made me consecrate not myself but my whole family as well. As of now, by the Lord's mercy, my family is fully one with me in serving the Lord. But what if one day, they opposes me? Should I just leave my family behind? God forbid. For "me and my family" must serve the Lord as Joshua of the Bible. 

"But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah." 

Joshua 24:15b 

Even in daily oblation, if I may use the word, I must do it not by myself but with my whole family. This is what I need. In prayer, in Bible reading, in pursuing the ministry of the word, in loving the Lord or in functioning in the church, I must not be by myself, but with my whole family. As much as the unit of salvation is household, so much the more, the unit of serving God must be household too. This revelation from the brother' fellowship opened my eyes to see a need for deeper consecration, not merely personally but even as a family. 

Saints of the past have taken this way of serving as a family. Noah, Joshua, Israel were biblical examples and many of my contemporaries too presently.  What a blessing to be able to serve the Lord as a family! Not a family ministry, but serving as a family for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Lord, have mercy on me and my family that we may serve You as a family. 

Three Days and Three Nights

As I was preparing for an interview for a PhD program that I proposed to do, the Lord granted me a wonderful experience of His tender loving care. Somehow I had been waiting for a time when I could finally do my PhD in a reputed university. How spiritual this dream of mine were, only the Lord knows. Nevertheless, my academic zeal had consumed me to prepare well when I discovered that I was selected for an interview. But time was a big issue to deal with. 

Already a father of three, with official, family and church responsibility, at time I wondered how would I ever manage my time to be faithful to all the present responsibilities. This was the very question a brother asked if I ever have to venture into research laboratory. My vague answer was, "let's see..."

Even at the very preparatory level, I was already too busy with many things at hand. I could hardly find time even to prepare for the interview, at least, to brush up the technical knowledge of Computer Science of which I received my master's degree twelves years ago. Then how would it be possible if I really have to research? I was brought in the horns of a dilemma - to do or not to do. 

For three days and three nights I was under intense pressure; I could not sleep well and was very much bothered by this. It was an experience as if I were "Jonah into the whale's belly" for three days and three nights. At times, I would just went out to pray and ask the Lord if it was His perfect will. But the Lord was wise in just shepherding me with neither yes nor no. My act of going to him in prayer was the answer of my prayer. God, perhaps, was least bothered with a yes or no, but His heart was to gain me by all means possible. Whether this way or that way, He has to gain me fully at all cost. At least for this little maturity, I was not troubled whether things go my way or not. 

Finally I decided to give a try, and I did. Then, the Lord really opened my eyes to see the true nature of things, of my self and of what I intend to pursue. A very intriguing question was, would I really be happy as a fish out of the water? Presently, that was exactly my case if I ever have to go ahead. After this experience I decided to spend more time on the service the Lord assigned me at the most and not to take more assignment which may not be healthy at all psychologically, physically and spiritually. 

My hands are already full with official responsibility of bringing up the company I am in, Greek courses going on with five years project of the Bible translation into various Indian languages, the work of shepherding the saints and new ones, gospel preaching and family matters. Only if the Lord graciously give enough time in the future I can consider, otherwise, I had to contently call it quit to my own proposal. It was painful though, but worth the experience. Yes, the experience of a three days and three nights.

Lord, preserve me in Your presence all the time.

The World (2)

As blogged in http://palmeichung.blogspot.in/search?q=the+world, the Lord reminded me over again and again of the stupefying effects of the world. Even the Lord Himself was tempted by the devil, of the world. As the verses below indicates, the kingdom of the world does belong to the devil. So the command, "Love not the world" in 1 John 2:15. 

Matthew 4:9

     8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

9 And he said to Him, ¹All these will I give You if You will fall down and worship me.

---

9¹ Luke 4:6 says that the kingdoms of the world and their glory were delivered to the devil; hence, to whomever he wills he gives them. Before his fall, Satan as the archangel was appointed by God to be the ruler of the world (Ezek. 28:13-14). Hence, he is called "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31) and holds all the kingdoms of this world and their glory in his hand. Seeking to be worshipped, he presented all these to tempt the newly anointed King. The heavenly King overcame this temptation, but the coming Antichrist will not (Rev. 13:2, 4).

The present situation in the city I live is teeming with the world. The current of the world is directly against the Lord's move. The saints are even affected by the winds of the world blowing stormily at times and silently at other times. As the devil subtly disguises himself in manifold ways.

Yesterday night, a case was brought to my attention in fellowship and for prayer about the situation of a sister who was emotionally tempted to the ways of the world. She have already been undergoing a lot of pressure and fighting a legal battle for survival. For quite sometime, she kept herself aloof and missed the fellowship. However, we have been praying for her recovery and trust the Lord in His sovereign wisdom in caring for His children as the good Shepherd. 

I was particularly glad to learn of the way in which the Lord interfered and blocked a certain relationship; I reckon such interference as the Lord's direct answer to our prayer. No matter how weak the saints may seem to be at times, they are not alone, the Lord and His Body is with them, all the way. Things may turn berserk but the Lord's covering, protection and guidance is ever present. Whatever the world attempts to do, or perhaps, must have done, we are not disheartened, for we have the Lord as our Shepherd. This sister's case is a typical example. On the one hand it exposes the wickedness of the world and yet the Lord uses such to preserve His children and loathe it thereafter.

Even all the spiritual battle fought in the Body for the saints are more or less related to the world. The new believers that I have been praying for and are shepherding are all affected by the world in some way or the other. But I am not discouraged, for the seed of life in them will grow and overcome ultimately. That's why, I personally do not cease to pray for these new believers, naming them one by one. I don't look at the present situation but to the Lord who can deliver them all unto His glory. I will continue in this way of prayer and the ministry the word that feeds and nourishes the believers. The direct weapon against the world is the word in prayer.

Praise the Lord for the word against the world!

God's Light

In ignorance it is very likely possible to live in one's own cocoon of self; thinking all the while one is on the right track just because of not seeing any other better track. With this, one is easily deceived of his own blindness and is living in delusion without any realization of where he is, what he is and where he is heading to. It takes the mercy of God to be delivered from such self-deceit. This is the state of being in spiritual blindness. The only panacea I see for such case is the Lord's light to shine and expose the true nature of things.

The case applies mostly to spiritual blindness, and the most common victims are those who are independent and individualistic even in their spiritual pursuit and experiences; they are often right in their own eyes as they have biblical verses to back their standpoint, and would not be convinced otherwise, as they reckon it as from the Lord. To me, this is a "spiritual suicide" that many lovers and seekers of the Lord are ignorantly committing just because they do not know the Body nor see the Body nor live in the reality of the Body life. It takes the Lord's light and mercy to restored in the Body.

I am no exception as a victim of such. But the Lord's mercy has time and gain uses the members of the Body to rescue me and brought in God's light through fellowship. Recently I had this wonderful experiences of being self-cocooned and shone upon by God's light. While under God's shining I could see the true nature of things and thanked the Lord that His glorious shining light has rescued me again. This experience made me more desperate for God's light and fellowship in the Body. I reckon this as one of the greatest spiritual treasures God has bestowed upon us today- the church-life in the Body of Christ.

With these experiences, here a little, there a little, the Lord is patiently and gradually recovering the Body He desires so. To be a apart of the Lord's recovery is an untold priceless privilege, an honor and a great blessing. It is the sure mercy of the Lord that the Lord has recovered me into the fellowship of His Body. Hallelujah!   

O the Lord's light shining, how I treasure it! It saves me from myself again and again. This glorious light is a "second salvation" from the self. And how much my heart longs for more of God' light to shine upon me and through me.

Lord, may Your light continue to shine upon me, until my whole being glows with Your light! That I may ever live and walk in the light as Your son of light.

Jehovah is My Shepherd!

PSALMS 23
1 Jehovah is my Shepherd; I will lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside waters of rest.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me on the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
4 Even though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death, I do not fear evil, For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, They comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me In the presence of my adversaries; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me All the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of Jehovah For the length of my days.

Pray-reading this whole Psalms was a very wondering experience of the Lord's shepherding in five stages. Besides, the experiential shepherding in real life, the enjoyment of the word on shepherding by the Lord's word was amazing as we prayed over the word and digested as our spiritual food. 

Later, as we pursued the life-study on Psalms, the revelation and understanding of the Lord's word was even more nourishing. Praise the Lord for the minster of the word who opened up the word of God, especially to me!

This psalm also tells us that Christ's shepherding of us is in five stages. The first stage is of the pastures and the waters of rest (v. 2). Pasture and waters are for our nourishment, including cherishing and enjoyment. The second stage is the stage of the paths of righteousness (v. 3). The paths of righteousness indicate our walk. After we enjoy Christ, are filled up with Christ, and are nourished by Christ, we walk on the paths of righteousness. The third stage is the valley of the shadow of death (v. 4). The valley, the shadow, and death are not pleasant. Christ's shepherding leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. The fourth stage is the battlefield (v. 5), where we are fighting against the adversaries. At the battlefield a table, a feast, is spread for us. Finally, the last stage is to dwell in the house of God all the days of our life (v. 6). Life-study of Psalms, Message 11 

The very speaking of the Lord in the word and in the life-study message was so rich and subjectively, to the extend that I experienced and enjoyed it right away. On the one hand I was shepherded; it became a "fresh bread" to me, and on the other hand, I shared with a couple of believers, and became their "fresh bread" too.  

When two sisters came for fellowship, we dwelt on these words and enjoyed the Lord together in His speaking. Again, a brother called me and my shepherding to him was on the same fresh bread I have been enjoying. And most significantly, the Lord burdened me to share the same enjoyment of the Lord's shepherding to a sister who went through a very very tough time in her life, and even tempted by the enemy to the extent of becoming bitter to certain ones. The negative feeling affected so much that she dwindled in her spiritual enjoyment and almost cut herself off from the fellowship of the Body. But the timely shepherding of the Lord, even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, is strong and victorious enough to lead us through to the joy and enjoyment of Christ as grace and life supply. Such was the effectiveness of the Lord's shepherding. 

The timing and experiences were all sovereignly arranged by the Lord and it just happened last week. The issue of the shepherding was, the brother and sisters in fellowship were recovered to a proper and normal enjoyment of Christ personally and corporately in the church-life; for they started coming again for the Lord's table meeting and opened their homes for fellowship, prayer and shepherding.

Along with the Psalms 23, I, with the saints, also enjoyed the corresponding hymns together with the saints.  Hymn 1170 (https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/1170)

1	The Lord is my Shepherd forever,   He maketh me down to lie, He leads me beside the still waters   O how He does satisfy!
	Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life; Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever, And I shall feast at the table spread for me; Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life.
2	My Shepherd Himself is my pasture,   My Shepherd, the waters of rest; I eat of His riches in spirit,   I drink, and O how I am blest!
3	My Shepherd my soul is restoring,   My will, and emotion, and mind; And though through the valley I’m walking,   O what a Companion I find!
4	A table prepared by my Shepherd   I feast on and Satan destroy; My head is anointed with oil,   My cup runneth over with joy!
5	And now in His house I am dwelling   Enjoying the goodness of God; My pleasure is far beyond telling,   My pleasure is Jesus my Lord!