The Lord's Speaking Again

Not our human plan nor we ever thought about it. But the Lord arranged this morning for us to come to a small town about 17 kms away from Kakinada. This was an impromptu arrangement. To a brother's friend's house, after 18 years meeting again. This was indeed the Lord's sovereign arrangement.

Tonight, we had a wonderful fellowship on Grace: God in Christ as the Spirit for our Christian life for the church life. Beginning with the Spirit in Genesis 1:2, comparing and contrasting with the Spirit in John 7:39. The Spirit in the Old Testament though it was the Spirit of God essentially it could not regenerate man yet, until in the New Testament, He was incarnated, passed through human living, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and descension, and entered into men, regenerating man making them His many children possessing His divine life and nature to be His expression and representation on the earth as the church, the testimony of Jesus. 

Furthermore we fellowshipped on John 14:16, concerning the promise of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which was fullfiled, firstly as the inward filling in John 20:22, for a Christian life and living, producing His believers (John 20:17) and secondly as the outward filling in Acts 2:4 for the Christian work for propagation and multiplication, and the issue of such filling in Holy Spirit or baptism of the Holy Spirit is to produce the church His Body, to be His corporate expression and representation as the fullfilment of God's purpose in creating man in Genesis 1:26.

We further fellowshipped on the universal and local aspect of the church, the significance of the church, the divisions caused by Satan, the Lord's heart's desire for His dwelling place, the church, the importance of oneness, and the need for the Lord to recover His testimony as the church standing on the ground of oneness as the testimony of Jesus.

The believers were so impressed by the Lord's speaking again and as we prayed together on our knees, our brother prayed for the testimony of Jesus.

We have discharged our burden, and henceforth, the Lord may continue to speak to them and grace them for the testimony of Jesus here in Samalkot. 

Grace, God in Christ as the Spirit for our experience and enjoyment is for Christ and the church.

LITERATURE JOURNEY: Guntur

In this city our meeting began with a group of pastor seeking to know more of the Bible concerning the church as the Body of Christ. We fellowshipped extensively on the Church as revealed in the Bible and opened the meeting for any clarification. The questions asked were worthy of answers and we used the Bible to answer them all. 

1. What is the meaning of "being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets" in Ephesians 2:20?
2. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, there is the manifestation of different gifts. Are these different gifts exercised in different denominations not justifiable for the formation of different denominations?
3. In Galatians 1:6, what is "a different gospel?"

We used the Bible to answer questions on the Bible itself. The footnotes on the Recovery Version helps too, we answered and further expounded the corresponding Bible verses to our heart's content, and they themselves testified their gratitude for the answers.

Meeting with a TV Preacher and an Apologetic, and also a Brother.

Our meeting began with an introduction of who we are and the ministry books, followed by a little testimony on our experiences of Christ as life in our Christian lives, which he appreciated very much. But as to the use of the word "recovery version" for the Bible, he vehemently objected as far as translation or linguistics is concerned, on the ground that it is the same Bible as any other and the truths in the Bible are fully intact as it is in other translation too, with no additional words or phrases or verses that validated the word "recovery".  He suggested to use a different word. Our attempt to answer him was futile as he dubbed it as subjective in experiences rather than objective in the biblical text. Finally, I told him I would communicate in writing after checking with the translators themselves.

He at one time had alerted and warned the believers on TV about "Witness Lee", as generally dubbed for the saints taking and standing on the ground of oneness as a local church, to be aware. His reason for such warning was that we had created a ripple among Christians these days, especially in Andhra Pradesh. To me that was a good news, as the Lord's move has been intensified in India these days.

Then I questioned him on what biblical basis as an Apologetic did he warn the believers in public on TV? I asked further, "Have you read any writings of Witness Lee? Can you point out which title book, chapter, and content that is against the Bible? And can you give any valid and solid Bible verses to proof the accusations?" He had none and said that he needed to study first.

I fellowshipped with him as brother in Christ to be beware of rumours and hearsay without any truth nor authenticity in it. And warned that we will be judged for every word we speak especially accusing our fellow brothers without any truth in it. And further gave testimony to him of the research done by CRI and their conclusion, and also requested him to do a thorough research on our teachings, beliefs and the practices, on which he agreed to personally do it in his time even as I would send him links for his references. 

I also testified of the refutation with a vehement former opposer in Mumbai, and a meeting with an Apologetic in Hyderabad recently, who all ultimately confessed the false accusation and misrepresentation and testified to our orthodoxy to the truths of the Bible. With this meeting his whole attitude toward us changed.

As I requested him to pray, he also requested me to pray. His prayer was so touching as he humbled himself and confessed that he is just a man and God is the supreme Judge and thanked God for this opportunity of open heart and transparent fellowship face to face. He even prayed for us that the Lord may lead us on and on and bless us even as we continue our journey to spread the ministry of word. He also thanked the Lord that we met him and cleared off the air of misunderstanding. I also followed suit in prayer that the Lord may forgive us wherever we might have gone wrong and that He may cause us to grow up to Him unto maturity, and that He may lead all of us in whatever we do, for the building up of the Body of Christ.

He thanked us for the visit and we thanked him too for his time and openess for a face to face talk. With this visit we all felt the Lord's presence and speaking, and were full of peace. 

May the Lord guide us further for the follow up fellowship, and the Lord may, in His multifarious wisdom, use every attack of the enemy for the accomplishment of His eternal economy and for His testimony in India.

Greek on Wheels

Since the very beginning of learning biblical Greek online, it has been my desire to finish exercises well on time before the due date. This time I had to travel for the ministry of the word and decided to finish the lesson due before I started the literature journey. To that extent I requested the serving ones to open the exercise time a week before it's scheduled time. However, many unavoidable works needed my attention so urgently that I had to postpone my Greek until before the due date and not before I started my journey.

Even as I began the literature journey I had to find time whenever possible to study Greek. While travelling in the bus or train or in three wheelers, I had to study and do all the exercises due. I dared not sacrifice my official literature service for Greek, nor Greek for my official duty. Looking to the Lord for more grace I tried my best to do both with the best of my ability. And I believed it was possible. The Lord really did grace me, and I enjoyed a wonderful learning of Greek on the move, Greek on wheels.

Against all odds, of finding time to study and a system to work out the exercises online, it was a trying time indeed. As much as I struggled to find time, my laptop would not cooperate with me either; a technical snag again and again would bother me. Nevertheless, I turned to my smartphone to do the online exercises. Thanks to the phone that is really smart indeed, a well deserved praise for a laptop substitute, only if it were an organic thing possibly personified to acknowledge my gratitude.

This experience was deeply motivated by a couple of things. First, the desire to learn Greek at all cost. Second, the importance of learning Greek for God's economy, as translation of the Recovery Version Bible of the New Testament into Indian languages are so important and the need so urgent. It cannot be delayed or neglected at any cost. Third, the universal dictum, "where there is a will, there indeed is a way", come what may, came alive all the way.

This experience is so marvellous. Greek on wheels...

The Lord's Speaking

Today morning as I coordinated with young brothers to clean the meeting hall campus here in the church in Guntur, a brother informed me of the need to minister the word in the meeting today. As I cleaned and looked to the Lord for His speaking I fellowshippwd with my brother the burden of releasing the truths of the Bible, the crucial points of the major items of the Lord's recovery today. These are the messages the Lord burdened me to dive into, get constituted with and minister. Every week in the local church in Gurgaon, I released the overview of the burden every week. Now in the final ninth week on the Holy Word for Morning Revival, I have covered and am somewhat constituted with the truths and the burdens. The Lord knows, this is the right time to release these burdens. And so He arranged this opportunity.

God's economy is the dispensing of the Triune God as life and life supply to the believers for the constitution and building up of the organic body of Christ that consummates the New Jerusalem. For this God the Father had planned, God the Son, Jesus Christ had accomplished the plan and God the Spirit applies to the believers the plan of God, in Christ Jesus as the consumated Spirit , dispensing the eternal and divine life of God to the believers for the producing of the church, the Body of Christ, standing on the ground of oneness and building up the organic Body of Christ to fullfil God's eternal purpose.

With the objective truth released, subjective experiences were also testified, ministering and dispensing life to the saints. The Lord's speaking was so subjective as the saints testified in the prophesy meeting of how much and on what points the Lord spoke to them. Praise the Lord!

Later, after the meeting and lovefeast, a serving brother fellowshipped with me to minister the word again in the young people meeting. The burden released was on the importance of clearance of the past according to the Holy Spirit's conviction and leading to clear any and every hindrances in the experience and growth in life. Then the burden on prayer as touching God in the Spirit was released, with subjective and practical help on scheduling specific time for prayer, receiving prayer burdens from the Lord and faithfully praying and living a prayer life. The saints enjoyed the Lord's speaking again and prayed in the end a corporate prayer for clearance of the past and prayer life. With the objective truths released, there were substantiation with subjective experiences as testimonies. Praise the Lord!

The Lord's speaking was so subjective, real and timely. Amen.

Lord, continue to speak...

My Brother's Portion

As I have been travelling with my brother in coordination for the propagation of the ministry of the word, the Lord grace me to enjoy my brother's portion which the head Christ in his sovereign wisdom has apportioned to him. Wherever we went, whomever we met, the Lord's speaking has been so timely and apt, through whoever of us. When my brother ministers to the local people in Telugu though I do not know the language I amen his speaking and stand with him in one accord. In my spirit I enjoy the flow of life.

Not that I try to be one with him, doing my best to adjust with him, but we are just one inwardly and outwardly without any effort of "trying to be one." In everything that we do, there has been an inward harmony spontaneously. In the ministry of the word, the Spirit's speaking has been so sweet, we took turns at times and  just my brother at other times. No contention, no competition nor comparison, but just coordinating as co-workers. What a blessed experience this has been!

This is the deeper lesson I have been learning in coordination. I thank the Lord for this opportunity. Not neglecting my own portion nor despising my brother's portion, but accepting one another's portion, honoring it for the building up of one another. And ultimately, all our portions and functions are for the building up of the Body of Christ.

This is the body-life, this is the church life. What a blessing to learn this lesson; honoring my brother's portion. I am beginning to experience and enjoy Psalms 133.

Dew of Heaven: Note from the Holy Bible, Recovery Version 

Psa. 133:31a  dew  Prov. 19:12;  Micah 5:7  Signifying the fresh and refreshing grace of God, which comes to us through God’s fresh compassions (Lam. 3:22-23; cf. Prov. 19:12). This grace—the Triune God processed and consummated to be our life supply for our enjoyment (John 1:14, 16-17; 2 Cor. 13:14)—waters us. Hermon, a high mountain, signifies the heavens, the highest place, from which the dew descends. The anointing of the Spirit (v. 2) and the supply of grace make it possible for us to live in oneness

Gates of Hades: Odd to Translation

Matthew 16:18 b, "The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

Since the very inception of the literature service in Telugu, especially, the translation service, there have been rampant attack on the serving ones. Our Hyderabad office was closed, and the serving ones went through a lot of crisis. Physical health issue, family problems, financial crisis and the likes. But somehow we managed to sail on despite the many hurdles. 

Last year we restructured the service responsibilities and it went on well. New serving ones have come in through fellowship. But soon, many of these saints have faced health issues that affected their services. For quite some time I have been wondering why it has to be so in this particular language. Beginning this year we started a Life-study project with two serving ones and some part timers joining in. No sooner than it began, one of them have serious health issue suddenly and the other serving one's father was hospitalised and is now in ICU. Last night, I with two brothers visited them.

As I have been on Ministry Literature Journey to select cities of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, Telugu speaking region, I realised one important matter. There are thousands of seeker of the truth waiting for us to supply them the ministry of the word. I have heard testimonies of how seekers have read the ministry books and turned to take the way of the Bible in the practice of the church life, leaving religion and degraded Christianity, to enjoy and experience Christ in a new and living way for the building up of the church, the Body of Christ, and  Satan hates this. So is the attack.

When the ministry perfects the saints and builds up the Body of Christ as in Ephesians 4:12, which is the fulfillment of the Lord's prophesy in Matthew 16:18, Satan, the  gates of Hades, will not keep quite. No wonder the attack. But praise the Lord, he will not prevail against it. Hallelujah!

These are visible signs that the ministry is prevailing and it will fully prevail. Now I am so much strengthened for the service and function the Lord has entrusted me in the Body, in the literature service to build up the church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Press On

Our recent training for the leading and responsible  brothers for the churches in India was on pressing on from the tabernacle church life to the temple church life as seen in the history of the journey of the Ark from being in the tabernacle till the transition into the temple in Jerusalem. In type, there is also the enlargement of the material, size, weight and number typifying the need to press on in our experiences of the Christ.

What the Lord touched my being was in the materials used in the building of the temple, especially that of gold, bronze and stone besides the Cyprus wood, Cedar wood and olive wood.

The Church as the Temple of God—The Goal of God's Eternal Economy, Message Three, The Intrinsic Significance of the Materials of the Temple (2)

      Gold: 

IV. The major parts of the temple were made of wood overlaid with gold, signi-
fying man being overlaid—united, mingled, and incorporated—with God—
2 Chron. 3:7; 1 Kings 6:20-21, 30, 32, 35; 7:48-51:
A. The Lord’s recovery consists of God overlaying His recovered people with Him-
self.
B. Oneness is a matter of sinking deeply into the Triune God until we are fully
overlaid with gold; the only way to be kept in the real oneness is to have an
adequate amount of the experienced God—Eph. 4:3; Col. 2:19.  

Bronze:

VI C. Those who are useful to God are constantly under God’s judgment (bronze), realizing that they are men in the flesh, worthy of nothing but death and burial— Psa. 51:5; Exo. 4:1-9; Rom. 7:18; Matt. 3:16-17:   

1. We must judge ourselves as nothing and as being qualified only to be crucified; whatever we are, we are by the grace of God, and it is not we who labor but the grace of God—1 Cor. 15:10; Gal. 2:20; 1 Pet. 5:5-7.   

2. The reason for both division and fruitlessness among believers is that there is no bronze, nothing of God’s judgment; instead, there is pride, self-boasting, self-vindication, self-justification, self-approval, self-excuse and self-righteousness and condemning and regulating others instead of shepherding and seeking them—Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:54-55.   

3. When we love the Lord and experience Him as the man of bronze (Ezek. 40:3), He will become our extraordinary love, boundless forbearance, unparalleled faithfulness, absolute humility, utmost purity, supreme holiness and righteousness, and our brightness and uprightness—Phil. 4:5-8. 

Stone: 

VII. The stones of the temple signify Christ’s humanity in transformation, the transformed Christ—1 Kings 5:15-18; 6:7, 36; 1 Chron. 29:2; 2 Chron. 3:6: 

D. The New Testament speaks of living stones (1 Pet. 2:5), and the Old Testament  speaks of cut stones (1 Kings 5:15, 17-18; 6:7); the stones used for the building up of the church must be living inwardly and cut (dealt with) outwardly (2 Cor. 4:16): 

1. In the church some brothers and sisters can be compared to “wild” stones, freshly cut from the quarry and full of sharp edges; when they are contacted, they cause people to be hurt and to have an uncomfortable feeling.  

2. They are not stable enough to be built upon, to coordinate and serve with
others, to fight the battle with others, or to bear the Ark with others.  

3. Every piece of stone used for the building of the temple was, in principle, already cut and dealt with in the mountains; thus, the sound of hammer, ax, and iron tool was not heard, and the temple was built quietly—1 Kings 5:15-18; 6:7; cf. Isa. 30:15a.  

4. The church should be built without any “noise” of the self; the only sound in the church that we should hear is the music, “the joyful noise,” of calling on the Lord, rejoicing, praising, praying, thanking, and singing—Psa. 100:1-5; Acts 4:10-12; Phil. 4:4; Heb. 13:15; 1 Thes. 5:16-18; Col. 3:16-17; 1 Chron. 6:31-32. 

The Lord's speaking was so apt. It reminds me to come to the Lord again and gain to gain Him as gold, to sink into Him and to be overlaid with Him; to be judged daily in my daily living, in my words, thoughts and deeds; and to be dealt with and be a transformed stone to fitly framed and joint with other members in the Body. All these are for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Lord, grace me to press on and on.