The Sin of Objectivity

Last week I went to an international book fair in Delhi and stumbled upon a group of religious zealot; who attempted vainly to convince me that the Lord Jesus is just a prophet and not God. The more they spoke to me, the more I discerned their blindness and immaturity in their understanding of spiritual things. Paul rightly said about interpreting spiritual things with spiritual words to spiritual men in 1 Corinthians:

 2:11   For who among men knows the things of man, except the spirit of man which is in him? In the same way, the things of God also no one has known except the Spirit of God. 2:12   But we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is from God, that we may know the things which have been graciously given to us by God; 2:13   Which things also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things with spiritual words. 2:14   But a soulish man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he is not able to know them because they are discerned spiritually. 2:15   But the spiritual man discerns all things, but he himself is discerned by no one. 2:16   For who has known the mind of the Lord and will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

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The more they spoke to me, even childishly trying to quote the Bible when they hardly know and experience the Spirit of the Bible, the more I pity them for their ignorance and spiritual blindness. I only prayed for them inwardly that one day the Lord would open their spiritual eyes to see Jesus as God as revealed in the Bible. This rather remind me of the religious Jews who searched the Scriptures but never came to the Lord.

John 5:39You ¹search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that testify concerning Me.

Note on "search" from the Recovery Version of the Bible: To "search the Scriptures" may be separated from "come to Me" (v. 40).The Jewish religionists searched the Scriptures but were not willing to come to the Lord. These two should go together; because the Scriptures testify concerning the Lord, they should not be separated from the Lord. We may contact the Scriptures, yet not contact the Lord. Only the Lord can give life.

I determined not to enter into any debate which I used to do when I was much younger and immature, but I smiled at them and told them to read the Bible carefully with prayer, perhaps, that the Lord would have mercy on them and open their eyes. I did give them an example of explaining the taste of sweetness to someone who never tasted what is "sweet". No amount of theoretical explanation, however accurate and convincing, can make it understand what is sweet. But a crystal of sugar put in a tongue will solve the mystery in a second. 

Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that Jehovah is good; / Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."

To proclaim to  have read the Holy Bible, perhaps, even to study them and yet not to believe into Jesus of whom the Bible speaks about, and never touching the Spirit or being touched by the Spirit in the human spirit is a grave misreading. Hilariously, on top of being so objective and questioning the divinity of Christ is even more heretic.  To me, its a sheer waste of time even to talk to such people, much less debate. Unless the Spirit opens their eyes, its real futile to engage such blindness. 

The sin of objectivity surely is not to see Jesus Christ as the Saviour, and not to believe into Him to be saved. This experience, on the one hand, confirmed and strengthened my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as He is so subjective to me, and yet on the other hand, alerted me of the danger of being objective, even as I read the Word daily. The objective logo-Word should become the subjective rhema-Word every time I come to the Word of God.

No revelation, no interpretationNo light, no sightNo vision, then only confusionTis how the unsaved reads the Word of God.

 Lord, be more subjective to me day by day. Save me from the passivity and deadness of objectivity. May You shine upon me and feed me subjectively every time I come to Your Word.

One Fruit, One Month

..producing twelve fruits, yielding each fruit each month.. Rev. 22:2

A week ago the Lord intuitively spoke to me in my time with Him in the Word that I should bear one fruit each month, twelve remaining fruits in a year. As I prayed over the burden the Lord imparted, it was made more clear to me that as a family we would pray for this to be true each month. Few days later I fellowshipped with my wife. Though she responded with a faint "amen", later she agreed to bear the same burden as we started to pray for this burden. First, to set a pattern as a family, then be a testimony to the saints to follow suit; that all may bear abundant and remaining fruits.

To my assessment at least, I cannot tolerate being fruitless. Not that I don't have any fruits, but that I should have more fruits, in fact, remaining fruits. This is the promise of the Lord to all those who abide in Him, and a command of the Lord to go forth to bear fruits.

Following the receiving of the burden and the prayer with it, the Lord led me to meet some of the new ones to fellowship and pray together. To those I could not meet physically, I called them over the phone for fellowship and for prayer. Besides, the Lord also brought new ones back to fellowship even with my wife. So we both prayed together and bore the burden together. Our goal for this month is a baptism of a brother and  the recovery in the a normal Christian life and church life of a sister. By faith, we reckon it accomplished. Praise the Lord!

With this new burden, my view towards the new ones, towards the Lord's promises and towards the situation of the saints and churches had a radical change. With this burden I would pray for the saints and the new ones, and shephereded them as much as possible leaving no stone un-turned. Whenever we meet, I would grasped the opportunity to fellowship, minister the word and pray. Especially on the Lord's day prophesying meeting, I would release my burden based on the present speaking of the Lord in the HWMR with a review of the foregoing messages as a reminder and repetition for constitution. 

Trusting the Lord's mercy and grace, I look forward to the Lord's abundant blessing this year. Even in my personal pursuit, the Lord graces me to divine into the ministry writings with a definite goal of completing the pursuing of the collected works of Watchman Nee. I have now grasped every opportunity, redeeming my time to get into the ministry of the word, especially while travelling in Metro or at any free time. This indeed is a very enjoyable exercise. What a grace to be under the Lord's blessing in following Him!

Lord, grace and bless us to be Your fruits bearing branches by eating of the Tree of Life and drinking from the River of Water of Life.

Satanic Schemes

"That we may not be taken advantage of by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes." 2 Corinthians 2:11

Satan is no fool in playing with people, especially those of the household of faith. And we should be no fool either to be played fool by him. The Christ within us has defeated him at the cross of Calvary; in fact, he is the defeated foe. Nevertheless, we should not undermine his schemes as he is too crafty the serpent is, and we should be as prudent as the serpent too (Matthew 10:16b).

Last Friday I decided to go forth to preach the gospel in Faridabad and was all ready for the same. But a little official task was pending which I thought would hardly take an hour. But as I did the work it took so much time, hour after hour, to the point that I had to spend the whole day doing the work. Though it was a simple task but I could not let it go as it is my official responsibility to finish important task on time. I knew then, that it was the scheme of Satan trying to withhold me back from preaching the gospel. However, as the official work was being done, I also spent time in the word and enjoyed the Lord's speaking again on the importance of going forth and bearing fruits and that the fruits should remain.(The same was blogged, http://palmeichung.blogspot.in/2016/01/be-fruitful-and-multiply-3.html).

Though I could not for gospel preaching as planned, still I spent time to get into the word and prayer as the work was being done. And later, spent more solid time with the Lord in prayer wherein the Lord reconfirmed many burdens He has given me for this year and the promises He gave.

The next day, I went with all my family for the gospel preaching in Faridabad. Had I gone earlier, my plan was to go alone and stay overnight. But now I could go with my whole family. Praise the Lord! 

And the Lord blessed the gospel preaching as we went house by house, door knocking. Majority of the people we met received the word of God and some called upon the Lord Jesus' Name and prayed the sinner's prayer. And later in the afternoon, we enjoyed two hour long fellowship with two solid brothers whom the Lord confirmed within to shepherd for pillars of the church to be raised up. The anointing of the Lord was rich and sweet as we fellowshipped on the word of God: on the church, the ministry, the Body of Christ, oneness, the ground of oneness, the difference between soul and spirit. It was a wonderful time of propagation and shepherding.

What was planned for myself turned out to be a family matter. Though the scheme of Satan seemed to work, the Lord sovereingly used is for the better. Satan is crafty but the Lord within us is much wiser. Often Satan becomes an useful tool for God to carry out His purpose on the earth through His chosen ones.

Therefore, we must be on the alert, always living and walking in the spirit, and be not ignorant of the Satanic schemes that we may not be taken advantaged of by Satan.

Christ is the Victor! Jesus is the Lord! 

Positive Ambition

In secular field the word "ambition" bears a very positive connotation, and all good students are with good ambitions in life. However, in spiritual life, its connotation is mostly inclined to the self and does not bear a positive image. In fact, many of the division among Christians can be attributed to the spiritual ambition of the spiritual leaders. In the name of "visions", "revelation" and "ministries" the un-dealt self is completely exposed resulting in the various factions and denominations among believers. Due to this ill affect, the word "ambition" is a cautious thing to guard for in the Body life.

However, the fact that the enemy uses certain attribute does not nullify the goodness and usefulness of the attribute itself. With a proper attitude and pure heart, we must indeed be positively ambitious for God's eternal economy. Lest the enemy cripples our God given gifts for the building up of the Body of Christ.

In a recent training, an elderly and mature brother fellowshipped about the need to be positively ambitious. That fellowship opened my eyes. As all this while, I have been keeping a strict guard on anything ambitious within my being, as I would not allow the enemy to instigate my soul-life for any of his crafty and stealthy purpose. Nevertheless, the cautiousness should not be a tool of the enemy to hamper my function in the Body either. I must positively function as the Lord blesses and as the Body coordinates for the Lord's purpose.

With this enlightened understanding, I consecrated my life to the Lord afresh for His heart's desire that all the positive ambitions I have may be properly used for the building up of the Body of Christ. In the Body, with the Body and through the Body, all the gifts the Lord bestows may as well be used for His purpose.

One of the burdens and positive ambitions within me is to be academically upgraded to a higher level of education than what the Lord has given as of now. And to be more fruitful in my official service, and in the matter of spiritual fruit bearing. What I am today by His grace and where I am now is also good, but it can always be made better. This is my positive ambition of doing my best, and giving my best to the Lord. 

The Lord must be loved with the best love; He is the supreme One and the most precious of all. My value of concept should be renewed to value the Lord more than anything else. In fact, to love Him with the best love, and serve Him with the best of my being, and worship Him with the best of offerings is my heart's desire, my positive ambition. To the priceless precious One, no price is too profound; He deserves it all. My "alabaster flask" must be broken for His satisfaction.

Henceforth, in the proper spirit, I would encourage all the saints to have positive ambition for the Lord's interest on this earth and for the fulfillment of His divine economy.

Lord, I love You and offer to You my best.

Be Fruitful and Multiply (3)

And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of heaven and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. Genesis 1:28   

The speaking of the Lord today in my time with Him in the word is this wonderful command, "be fruitful and multiply." This is the third time, a define word on being fruitful is being charged to me. I have no idea how fruitful I have been to this day. Only He knows. But every new year, the Lord's  charge to me is to be fruitful and multiple.

In my self, I have no way to be fruitful. Fruitfulness, to my understanding, depends on the Lord's blessing. If He commanded "be fruitful" it must have meant that He will bless. The issue of being fruitful is a multiplication. In addition to the Lord's command to be fruitful, it has indeed been my prayer and desire that I truly be fruitful to Him. 

  

How can I be fruitful? His word in John 14:5 is the answer.

I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Verse 16, You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and I set you that you should go forth and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you.

The only way I can bear fruit is to abide in Him as He abides in me. Last night, the Lord's speaking too was on a similar line in Ezekiel 1:4. As His Spirit moves in me, He also abides with me as the cloud. His abiding in me is fine, but how about my abiding in Him. This is my responsibility, and I must exercise my spirit to abide in Him.

Besides, there is a charge to "go forth" preceding the "bear fruit". Which means, as I abide in Him, I must also go forth to preach the gospel. Without the "go forth" there cannot be the "bear fruit." Now, the ball in on my court. Yes, God has commanded that I should be fruitful, but for this to be practical, I must not only abide in Him but also cooperate with Him in going forth to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and bring sinners to salvation.  

Still the story does end here. The fruits borne by abiding in Him and going forth to preach the gospel must be shepherded that the fruits should remain. Only then the multiplication can happen. Otherwise, a mysterious and erroneous formula of 100+20 = 100 will hold true. 

If the fruits borne does not remain, though  many fruits be brought forth, there will never be a multiplication. Whatever is gained will also be lost. This has been my case for quite few years now. It is not totally that I never go forth to bear fruit, I did go forth and bear fruit but the fruits are often not remaining fruits. Here comes the need for shepherding.

The ultimate speaking of the Lord and the burden for this year is "to be fruitful and multiply." For this, I must abide in the Lord, go forth to preach the gospel and shepherd the new ones that the fruits may remain.

Lord, make me Your faithful witness and shepherd to be fruitful and multiply.    

New in Christ 2016

Corporately as the church in Gurgaon as we fellowshipped on the word and prayed thanking the Lord for all His faithfulness in leading us thus far, it dawned on me personally my nineteenth spiritual birthday last night. We had a wonderful time testifying of what the Lord has been doing in us. The hymns, "Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father, #19 and "He leadeth me! He leadeth me! By His own hand He leadeth me; #585 were very apt to express the deep feeling within me.

As a church we pray-read Ezek. 1:4 with the footnotes from the Holy Bible Recovery Version.

And I looked, and there came a storm wind from the north, a great cloud and a fire flashing incessantly; and there was a brightness around it, and from the midst of it there was something like the sight of electrum, from the midst of the fire.

This has been our experiences these days, and the Lord is faith to send the storm from the north wind blowing us to have a spiritual turn. Many saints have had this experience; in their business, in their family, in their finance, in their relationship and even in the church life. Now the Lord has made us understand why things were happening as it were. Nevertheless He comforted us by abiding with us as the cloud. Furthermore, He sanctifies us by burning away all the "tin and dross" that does not conform to His holy life and divine nature, thereby, filling us with Himself as the glory to express Him in our Christian life and church life. That was the speaking of the Lord last night. Praise the Lord!

Besides, the leading in the church was for a consecrated life to maintain a regular prayer life, personally and corporately as the church, and to be not taken advantaged of by Satan with his schemes as in 2 Corinthians 2:11, "That we may not be taken advantage of by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes." To also be equipped with the word of God by daily reading of the Bible; to this effect a reading schedule for reading through the text of the Bible in a year was given to all as well. All these spiritual pursuit must ensue in gospel preaching as the Lord commissioned us in Matthew 28:19, "Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," and thereby shepherding one another by love in a way of blending and building up. That was the Lord's leading for this coming new year.

The real new one is God Himself.  In God, in Christ we are ever new, for God is eternally new. Such newness is expressed in hymn #16 "Our Father, as the evergreen, Thou art forever new;" We enjoyed this hymn as  the physical new year dawned. It was a wonderful time indeed to be renewed year by year at large, and day by day particularly.

So then if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, they have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Lord, grace us to enjoy You as the newness all the days of our lives.

Double Portion

For there will be peace for the seed: The vine will give forth its fruit, and the land will give forth its produce, and the heavens will give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. Zechariah 8:12     Turn to the stronghold, O prisoners with hope. This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you. Zechariah 9:12   

At the fag end of the year, reviewing back what the Lord has done, the most precious thing I treasure of all is the experience and enjoyment of Christ. It has dawned on me that the only thing, yes the one and only thing worth mentioning, worth treasuring, is the gaining of Christ. In fact, there are many other physical and psychological blessings too, but supreme of all is the gaining of God in Christ as the Spirit for the growth in life for the building up of the Body of Christ. This is the real counting of blessings, really worth counting one by one.

Though there were failures, shortcomings, weaknesses, worldliness and sins now and then, though many of what I hoped and longed for has not really been fulfilled, personally and corporately as a church, and many of our prayers still seemed to be not yet answered, still the Lord is faithful and He knows best. In spite of all these unfulfilled hopes, the Lord's word is still trustworthy. 

In my time with the Lord these days, the leading and speaking of the Lord is very specific. Be it prayer or task to accomplish, His leading is very clear. My time with the Lord has a new turn henceforth. No longer beating aimlessly in the air, but point by point, the burden for the coming year has been released. Personally what to accomplish, officially what tasks to carry out, and as a church the leading of the Lord is on the practice of the God-ordained way. Even in our church prayer meeting last night the move of the Spirit in prayer was very specific, point by point releasing of burden with definite goal in 2016. Besides, all our family prayer and my own personal prayer are all very specific and to the point. As the year changes, a new beginning is a blessed visitation indeed.

The faithful promise of the Lord is a "double portion."  "The vine will give forth its fruit, and the land will give forth its produce, and the heavens will give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things." And I will restore double to you.

Lord, thank Your for all Your blessings, and for Your promise of double portion blessing.