Short Prayers

It was last week’s Tuesday praying meeting when we prayed monotonously and the leading of the Lord through a brother was to adjust the way we prayed. We read a portion of the ministry on short prayer that enlightened me so much.

PRAYING SHORT PRAYERSToday we need to be blended together by much and thorough prayer. In our prayer we should not merely exercise our spirit but also release our spirit. Praying is the unique way for us to exercise our spirit and even the more to release our spirit. When our spirit is released, we can be blended together in this released spirit. Actually, when our spirit is released, there is no need to talk about blending. The released spirits are a kind of blending.

When we come together to pray, we need to release our spirit by praying short prayers. Our prayers are too long. The long prayer is a prayer of composition. It is not prayer out of a burden. The real burdened prayer would not be a long composed prayer. At one time in the 1960s when we were in Los Angeles in Elden Hall, our prayers were very short. Sometimes we had over two hundred in our prayer meeting. Each saint would pray one sentence, and we were like one person praying together. We coordinated together in our prayer, and there were no long prayers. In one recent meeting, I pointed out to some of the co-workers that their prayers were too long.

Soon after I was saved, I met with the Brethren. We always had a long prayer meeting with long prayers. In that long meeting, there were only four or five who prayed. Four or five occupied the entire time, and the composition of their prayers was mostly the same. Furthermore, among these four or five who prayed, we usually knew in what order they would pray. When the prayer came to the last one, everyone knew that after his prayer, we would soon be dismissed. Our church prayer meeting has reached this kind of situation with long prayers. Long prayers kill, but short prayers stir us up. Short prayers fan our spirit into flame.

It is very difficult for the brothers and sisters who are used to praying long prayers to have a change to pray in a short way. Those who pray long prayers always lay a foundation of much explanation in their prayer. They explain to the Lord why they need to pray, or they give the Lord directions about how to answer their prayer. They may say, “Lord, You are so good. We are not praying for ourselves. We are not on this earth. Lord, we are today in the heavens. Even we are at Your throne....” We need to drop this way of explaining in our prayer to the Lord. In order to blend ourselves together in the vital groups, we must drop the old way of praying long prayers. We should pray short prayers, simply telling the Lord what we want Him to do for us (cf. Mark 10:51).Fellowship Concerning the Urgent Need of the Vital Groups,  Msg. 12,by Witness Lee

After this short reading on short prayer, we practiced it and it was full of life. Our spirit was lifted up and we could release our spirit, exercising our spirits to pray short prayers. That prayer was again a new lesson to me on prayer. We had the burdens and could release them one by one, in a corporate way. Amen. 

Anger Management

Almost a month ago a brother I have officially engaged for translation service shot me an email of certain complaints which to me were all false allegations. It was a surprise mail to me, even a shock, for I never expected such mail from him as our relationship has been going on quite well officially as well as spiritually. I read the mail a couple of times and could discern that some misunderstandings have crept in, as the work we have been engaged in is a very serious and important matter for the Lord’s move among the Hindi speaking people of India. It was the attack of the enemy to try to thwart the Lord’s work in this important region of the world. As I read through the three mains allegations, I had answers for all of them and was about to shoot back a strong reply, perhaps, a tit for a tat?

But thank the Lord for His mercy that I did not succumb to such minor allegations and the realization that I should not sell myself to such a nasty act of “revenge.” I left the matter to the Lord in prayer. The more I prayed about it, the more the Lord confirmed to me that I should not react in my flesh nor in my soul, rather leave the matter to the Lord who sees and knows all, in and out.

In fact, there was a time I was about to present all the hard facts to refute the false allegations. But the Lord did not give me peace to do so. And I just left the matter to the Lord. Instead of reacting against the allegations, the Lord enlightened me to pray for the matter instead, and perhaps, visit him to fellowship face to face. But with a confirmation that he should call me first. I did attempt to visit but I could not find a proper time earlier, at the same time waiting for the proper time with the confirmation that he should call first. After a month, the Lord arranged a meeting with him in fellowship in a brotherly way. 

Then when I realized that the time had ripened to visit him, a brother and I went to fellowship with him. As we fellowshipped no such allegations cropped up. Instead, I clarified all his misunderstandings one by one in a way of fellowship. Besides, on his inquiry for clarification, I ministered the word clarifying the difference between soul and spirit. He was enlightened of many deeper truths which he was not aware of inspite of being in Christianity for decades, and despite the fact that he proof-read some of the translation work on the same topic, “soul and spirit.” After the fellowship, we even prayed together and rebuild our relationship as Christian brothers, and as well as official delegates.

Later, I even realized that the mail was not written by him at the first place, but by his assistant. And I just thought to myself, what a fool I would have been had I replied to the mail written by a third person on false allegations. Satan is so subtle to tear down the building work among the believers. And he "angers" people on "false charges" trying to create enmity among the brethren. It needs the Lord's mercy to not succumb to his divisive tactic, and never to give vent to anger nor pay heed to what causes anger. I guess, this is the best "anger management?"

Lord, cover us with Your blood and keep us under the shadow of Your grace.

Healthy Trips

Whenever I took a tour, either officially or for propagation or training or conferences, I enjoyed the Lord's anointing so much so that whoever I met I ended up shepherding if they were believers, or, preached the gospel if they were unbelievers. Every time I travel I reckoned it as a "vacation" from my busy office work and enjoyed the tour in a human yet divine way,  thanking the Lord all the while. This time too, as I came to the mountain, the Lord granted me sweet hours of fellowship with Him. He showed me new direction for the literature service and enlightened me on some crucial official responsibilities. With this initiative trip to introduce the ministry to the Hindi speaking people of India, the Lord further led me to plan for the upcoming four important trips that would be undertaken before this year ends. As I considered before the Lord in prayer, I just realised it was all planned by the Lord, good for the spread of the ministry of the word, good for my service, good for the Lord's move, and also good for me personally.

On the spiritual side, the entire trip always were an exercise of the spirit, contacting the prominent Christian leaders,  and I got to function in speaking the word in season and out of season. Besides, during the recent trip, on the last two Lord’s day in two different cities, the Lord arranged a platform to minister the word among seeking believers. When invited by the leading brothers, I took it as the Lord's arrangement and ministered the word as the Spirit led. This time too, it happened in Almora and Kathgodam, Haldwani. In the other places, sweet home meeting transpired with genuine seekers, in Pithoragarh and Nainital. All these were to be followed up in a way of shepherding for the Lord's testimony. Moreover, the Lord also introduced me to some contacts and Christian leaders in other parts of North India. The most significant one is a brother who is a leader among churches in Jammu and Kashmir, another target for the ministry of the word distribution.

On the physical side, I got to exercise my body a lot, walking, climbing the hilly terrain and skipping meals quite often, reducing my intake of food which I found it very hard to do at home. I just felt physically more active and healthy.

This trip, and the likes, were all "win-win" cases from all sides, except that I miss my family. Even in such, our bonding seemed to become sweeter and dearer when I travel, for my family extended their prayer and wishes, texted and told me more frequently, "I miss you, " "I love you, " and the likes, which were not very frequent when at home.

The conclusion of the matter is, my travelings were all win-win case and altogether a healthy trip. Praise the Lord!

Haldwani

A populated plane of the otherwise thinly populated hilly state was our last destination for the recent trip. The congestion and crowd of the city reminded me of being still in India,as we climbed down from the hill station of Nainital. As we began meeting Christian leaders, the height of expectation we had in this populous city was punctured into a thin air; too few believers to meet in this crowded city. My first comment to the brothers was, this land is good for gospel preaching instead, rather than for the distribution of the ministry of the word. We started off with a low note. But was not discouraged. The Lord had brought us, so He must have some plan.

The first two days were like crawling on a hot and dusty floor. But on the last day, yesterday, the Lord did something spectacular. It was on Saturday we met an elderly brother to whom we introduced the ministry books, but he showed a little interest in reading as he said he hardly get any time to read with so much responsibility towards the congregation he is shepherding. But after introducing the books, he simply invited was to visit his congregation the next day and minister the word. With his invitation we attended the Pentecostal meeting when my attention was caught by a brother who enthusiastically was drumming a desi-beat of the worship songs followed by the conventional Pentecostal style of screaming at high pitch as the songs reached its climax. Silently, I was just praying and looking to the Lord, and was deeply confirmed within that the believers definitely needed the proper and healthy ministry of the word; the word of God was all that they needed, and the Word must be ministered with the Spirit.

After all the general items were accomplished, the leading brother invited us to minister the word. A brother and I went up to the pulpit to minister the word, with my brother as the translator into Hindi. Our coordination was so sweet, and we had the same spirit and same speaking. And the Lord blessed the speaking.

Initially, I shared my salvation testimony and then released the burden the Lord implanted within me; the urgency and importance of growth in the divine life. At length I discoursed on the practical ways to grow in life and be constituted with the word of God with the three essential practices of breathing, drinking and eating the Lord. Important verses of John 6 were delved into, on the Lord as the Bread of Life, and the need to eat Him as such, daily. Thus, after having we released the burden the Lord gave us, we prayed and got down the pulpit.

After the meeting many believers came and testified of how much blessed they were. To note few of them: a sister and her children came for fellowship and expressed her hunger and thirst for the word of God. She even took all the English ministry books as she wanted to pursue the truth. Then, the drummer brother came and testified of how much he was blessed by the Lord's speaking. He even wanted to meet us again and later in the evening when we were out for a group meeting he went to our guest house and handed an envelope to a brother meant for me and testified to the brothers how much he was blessed with the word. Then, an elderly brother who was from Muslim background and from Jammu and Kashmir region fellowshipped the blessing he received through the ministry of the word. As I introduced the ministry books, he recollected the book he read many years ago, The Spiritual Man, by Brother Watchman Nee, and was so glad to meet with us. He even welcomed us to visit him and introduce the ministry books in his state. Besides, we also learned that four leading Pastors attended the meeting and they all testified after the meeting, thanking God for the ministry of the word. 

May the Lord cover us with His blood, we are just His vessels to flow Him forth.

In the evening, a family invited us for a fellowship. Though we could have excused ourselves with our own valid reasons, the principle I generally uphold is, never say, No, to any believer requesting for fellowship. So we paid the price of visiting them in the outskirt of the city and enjoyed an hour long fellowship on Grace - God in Christ as the Spirit realised and enjoyed by us. This was not an intended message, but as we began the home meeting, the Lord burdened me to sing Amazing Grace and said something about the author John Newton, and ministered the word on grace, proofing verse by verse, how God in Christ as the Spirit became our enjoyment. Two brothers also coordinated with me and completed the message on Grace. The Scriptures the Lord gave us instantly were John 1:1, 14, 16, 17; 14:16, 26; 20: 17, 22; 1 Tim. 4:7,8; 2 Tim. 4:22; and 1 Cor. 15:10. The family was so happy, especially, the house wife, who was not so opened when we first met her the day before. Praise the Lord for the ministry of the word! May the Lord continue to grace them and also recover them for His testimony.

That was how this trip concluded. Lord,  gain Your testimony in Haldwani!

Nainital

Having enjoyed the hilly terrains, driving through scenic landscapes of Cedars and Cyprus trees, we embarked on a hill station of some two thousands feets above sea level, and there lies a beautiful greenish lake in irregular oval shape, surrounded by mountains inhabited with lodges and hotels all around where tourists frequented for sightseeing and lake boating, a hamlet called, Nainital, our next destination for the distribution of the ministry of the word. 

Wasting no time, we visited all the Christian leaders and introduced the ministry literature as soon as we arrived. Surprisingly, all of them were so interested in the ministry that without much consideration,  they grasped there copies each. We also met the top two colleges' Principals as they were Christians themselves, though they  administrated an academic institution. Perhaps, due to their busy schedule, high security level and strict discipline, we only got few minutes to introduce the ministry. Nevertheless, the Lord opened their eyes within that short span, and they all immediately purchased the ministry books, of no less amount. 

Two other note worthy meetings were:

a leader of the biggest Christian group, and a brother who is a tent-maker by profession and serving the Lord. The commonality of both was that they loved the Lord very much and were very hungry for the word of God. Though we met them at different time and place each, their response to our fellowship was like a mirror image; one from a mainline church on the front line and well known,  and the other running a small group meeting as a church in his home at the back mostly hidden and less known. Both had pleasant visage, quite charming, and smiling throughout our fellowship. Every book we introduced to them, more precisely, every word or sentence we uttered,  they echoed with a resounding "Wow!" expressing their joy in the light and revelation they saw through the ministry of the word. And they both ended up ordering the whole set of ministry books we introduced. Besides, they both wanted to have us again for further fellowship and thanked us for visiting them. And with both, we spent a couple of hours at a stretch and enjoyed it as well. 

After those meetings, I just realised why the Lord brought us to that tourist spot. And deep within me there was a confirmation that the Lord indeed is recovering His testimony in this important and famous hotshot of North India. 

Apart from the spiritual blessing of meeting the Lord's chosen ones, we also enjoyed our stay there; the cold weather, fresh air, scenic views and delicious food. In fact, I ended up purchasing gifts for my son, especially, and daughters and wife as well. I felt I just could not miss the opportunity to show my love and care for my family in the humanity of Christ. 

That was a wonderful and all-inclusively enjoyable trip; both as an official one and personal one too, yes, even that of a spiritual one, yet, physical too. 

Lord, gain Your chosen ones for Your glorious testimony in Nainital! 

Almora

A beautiful hill town teeming with greens everywhere, the Cedars and the Pines, and breath of fresh air gliding through the hills,  the valleys,  the terrains,  and of course, through me as well, to satiate my love for nature at its freshness. This was the town where the Lord brought us for the introduction of the ministry of the word. On day one itself,  we have met the three main Christian leaders of this thinly Christian populated area, barely half of a thousand. These short while meetings were so fruitful that we were invited for the next day's meeting which happened to be the Lord’s day.

We went to a group that welcomed us to the meeting, and just attended the service as a guest. But when it was time for the "Sunday Message," the "Pastor" suddenly called and invited me to minister the word. No prior information and it was an impromptu arrangement. Being called and invited,  I just went up,  trusting the speaking Spirit and being "ready in season and out of season" I opened my mouth and the Lord anointed it and the Spirit ministered the word with much life supply. The ministry of the word was on "God's Heart's Desire" and "Calling Upon the Lord's Name." A local brother did the translation into Hindi and the the Lord indeed blessed the speaking as later on the brothers and sisters, including, the leading brother himself testified of how the Lord led him to invite me to minister the word. It was the Lord's ministry and it was the Lord's speaking. Praise the Lord!

After the meeting, three leading brothers sat with us for further fellowship. And four of us fellowship on "the Church as the Body of Christ." It was a deeper and more practical fellowship at length with three brothers taking turns and one translating into Hindi all the while. A wonderful coordination in the Body as we fellowshipped on the Body of Christ! To our encouragement,  the leading brother testified that they fully agreed with us as it was all the word of God,  and that they have been practicing similar teachings. He even said,  next time we visit again he would host us and we would have more fellowship and blending.

In the afternoon, we visited the biggest and oldest Christian group where we introduced the ministry books,  after which I shared a little about "a Christian life" within the ten minutes alloted to me with Hindi translation. The next day, the Pastor's son came to visit me and testified of how happy and thankful to the Lord he was for the speaking we delivered yesterday in his congregation. He even testified that that was the first time a "living message with Bible verse were clearly and explained in a simple way." They have been bogged down ritualistically for years with man-made tradition, without any life supply. The speaking we had,  he testified, was very apt and timely. Thank God,  at least I didn't know about their situation, but I spoke only as the Lord led me to do so. The Lord is the speaking God,  and I just gave Him the ground to do so. Amen.

May the Lord gain His chosen ones for His testimony in Almora!

Counting God's Blessings

Often times I wonder if the Lord's blessing is upon us or not, especially in the church matter as I coordinated with a brother. Even a senior and matured brother used to fellowship with us in this church matter, as the physical attendance of the Lord's Table Meeting has not been increasing for years now. This indeed is a matter of concern, and we, in the brothers' fellowship have been praying and fellowshipping on this matter quite often. Even me, personally, am looking to the Lord for His mercy that there be a break through in increase. 

When in fellowship last week, this brother whom I revered and honored very much,  asked me, "Palmei, you have been very exercised, praying, studying the word,  pursuing the ministry, and shepherding.. Why is there no increase?" My simply reply was, "Brother, I have been asking the same question to the Lord." And I fellowshipped with him that though there may not be an outward increase to quantify the result of our labor,  but I do definitely take my experiences in the church in Gurgaon as a training from the Lord,  and in shepherding I do enjoy the Lord  very much. I also testified of how the Lord has been graceling me to labor on few families for three years on a weekly basis and how they finally came to the church life and now becoming responsible brothers in the church. I also testified of what the Lord has wrought into me subjectively. Whenever I travel for literature distribution or gospel propagation I have been referring to the experiences God blessed me in Gurgaon. In such  trips I enjoyed the presence and blessing of the Lord so much. Then, he affirmed of what I shared in fellowship and commented that many times the Lord will used "difficult" situations for our training, learning and perfecting. 

As I went back home and considered the question the brother asked me, "Why is there not much blessing?", the Lord reminded me to count all the blessings He has bestowed on the church in Gurgaon. How many saints have been shepherded, how many young people have been sent from the church in Gurgaon to join the full time training, and how many have been serving full time now, and some even are our co-workers today, then, I was so encouraged to learn that the Lord indeed has blessed the church I am in, a lot. But I do not wish to take this as an excuse either, for  not gaining the increase that is expected of a local church. Yes,  manifold blessings are there, and I must expect for much more blessings,  even the kind mentioned by our senior brother,  of increase in number,  as the normal acceptable standard. Lord, gain Your increase. 

Besides, on the official side, as I counted the blessings of God, I thanked the Lord in how He has been leading me in accomplishing quite a number of important official tasks. Many of them started off with no clue,  but as I labored and prayed over it, all of the tasks were accomplished and fine tuned one by one. And after the works were done I just marvelled at the Lord's wonderful hands behind the scenes. I could not help but just praised the Lord. 

When counting the Lord's blessings one by one, I have only words to thank and praise the Lord. 

Thank You Lord, for all Your blessings. Keep me under Your blessings all the days of my life.