Take Action

There are times when one has to take definite action; mere talk is useless in many cases. For long I have been very gracious in taking care my two Onesimus'. Sometimes, handling certain brothers are not easy as they tend to take things for granted under the umbrella of "brotherhood." This is what bothers me most while caring for some brothers. I do regard their respect and honor, but at certain point I had to fire a salvo at them to teach them some spiritual lesson of life.

One of the brothers who has been staying with our family had created some nuisances because of the personal crisis he had been through recently. With insomnia and hyper-character, I discerned it best for him and our family to let him have his own accommodation elsewhere. Though I had fellowshipped with him about this decision, he seemed to overlooked the matter as being a brother. But things did not seem to improve, and was heading toward unwanted intrusion into the members of the family's life. That's when I took action and called it quit for him. Though painful as a brother, but for his own good and the good of the family, I needed to take action. And I did this after fellowshipping with another brother in the church and with all my family members. Time for action indeed.

Finally, after this action he struggled for few days and called me thrice requesting for a revocation of my decision of letting him go. But I felt it best for him to stay alone and aloof for sometime. But I welcomed him to join us for morning revival every morning and to be regular in his service. A week later, he could accept the decision and now he is back to his normal life.

Similar incident happened with another brother, and I did the same thing, calling it quit for him as a disciplinary action to his misconduct. After few days, he requested for fellowship when he openly confessed his misdeeds and begged for one more opportunity to continue in his service. With prayer I encouraged him to trust the Lord and enjoy His grace to overcome anything that frustrates his enjoyment of the Lord. Now, he is back again to his normal service.

There are times when definite disciplinary actions have to be taken. Such action is purely out of love and concern for the good the person concerned. I do believe such actions are needed according to the nature and condition of the people I am dealing with. Besides, this is also how the Lord trains me to be responsible for my service, in caring for the saints and also in discharging my official duties.

Take action when needed, even disciplinary action, in love.

Eagle's Wings

Yet those who wait on Jehovah will renew their strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles; They will run and will not faint; They will walk and will not become weary. Isaiah 40:31  

As we attended the video training as the church in New Delhi and Gurgaon combined, the Lord took us to a new height where the atmosphere of the training was much uplifted, and the dispensing of the ministry much stronger. The testing portion for the church in Gurgaon happened to be on message four, "The Coordination of the Four Living Creatures." The Lord's speaking was so rich, and our coordination in the testing was so strong, above all, the message was very supplying. The past weekend was full of the riches of the dispensing of Christ, and our blending with one another as the church in Delhi and Gurgaon was becoming much sweeter. Besides, it was a good time for the children to enjoy the children's service. All these were the result of coordination. We practically experienced the eagles' wings in our coordination.   

The coordination of the four living creatures is not in themselves but in God and by the divine power, the divine strength, and the divine grace, because the eagle’s wings are the means by which they are coordinated and move as one—vv. 9, 11; Exo. 19:4; Isa. 40:31; 2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor. 15:10: (Excerpt from CRYSTALLIZATION-STUDY OUTLINES, Ezekiel (1), Message 4).

Besides "living" as creatures, there must be the "coordination" as well. But this coordination is not by our ability to coordinate by good human virtues of adjusting and tolerating one another. Rather it is by God's divine power, strength, and grace as signified by the "eagles' wings." 

Eagle's wings are about 6-7 foot wide, and it has the capacity to detect warm air soaring up to the sky. The eagle simply spread out its wings and soar along with the rising air. It rarely flaps their wings to fly but soars mostly tapping the current of wind as its source of energy. This implies the tapping of God's divine power for the coordination.

These days I too experience the eagle's wings in my coordination with my wife for family matters and also with my coordinators in the literature and church service. With the Lord's divine life supply, our coordination was effortless, it just happens spontaneously and on top it, very sweet. On the human side, we learn to coordinate, yet it is really the divine power that enables us to coordinate. This truth has been made clear through the ministry of the word and proven by experiences to be true. This is how the Lord blends us together by His divine power and strength. 

Praise the Lord for the eagles' wings!        

Jabez's Prayer

1 Chron. 4:10 - And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, Oh that You would richly bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand would be with me, and that You would so keep me from evil that it would not grieve me! And God caused what he had requested to come to pass. 

Note on "Enlarge" from the Recovery Version of the Holy Bible. The enlarging of the border of the good land in the prayer of Jabez signifies the enlarging of the border of the gaining of Christ and the enjoyment of Christ (cf. Phil. 3:8-14), who is the reality of the good land (see note 71 in Deut. 8). We all should have such a prayer, a prayer that God would enlarge the border of our enjoyment of Christ (cf. Eph. 3:14-19). 

This is the expressed word of the Lord for me specifically these days. What I need at the moment is that the Lord would bless me richly. I have, time and again, come to conclusion that without the Lord's blessing, all that I am and have and can do are all vanity of vanity. 

With new changes coming up in my housing and official matters, I need the Lord to be the blessing. As I and my wife consider to shift our house as the office may shift too, we have many considerations. I practically have started looking out for new venue. Still there is no definite decision as to where to move, what kind of building etc. What is becoming clear so far is that we might have to relocate. When, where and how, are still questions to be answered. In the midst of all these, I can only pray and fellowship with my fellow members. And that is exactly what I have been doing. 

Enlarge my border, Lord! Spiritually, in the experiences of Christ I need to be enlarged, and physically too, I need my borders to be enlarged. It's about a decade now that I am in this city, Gurgaon. And I don't know how long I will continue to be here. If the Lord wills that my family continues to be in this city, I pray that my border be enlarged, in the sense of having our own premise and housing. Indeed, a practical enlargement is to have our own premises for office and private residence. Yet not my will but God's will be done. And this is my prayer these as the need is increasing by the year, as much as the rent in the city is increasing.

My main concern is for the operation of the literature service. All these years we have been in a rented premise. As long as the Lord wishes us to be this way, I simply say amen. From the point of view of being a serving one and considering for the long run, I personally feel it is time to have our own land and building, if only the Lord so wills. Besides, if the Lord would continue to keep me in the literature service and serve in this city Gurgaon, its better to consider having our own housing sooner than later. The only source of provision is the Lord's supply. This is what I have also fellowshipped with my wife. Nevertheless, not my will but the Lord's will be done, even in this regard.

Jabez's prayer has become my prayer: Lord, enlarge my border, richly bless me, may Your hand be upon me and keep me from evil!     

Thirtieth Year

Ezek. 1:1 - Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth of the month, while I was among the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 

Thirtieth, note on the Holy Bible, Recovery VersionReferring to Ezekiel’s age. At the age of thirty a priest, a Levite, was qualified to begin his service to the Lord (Num. 4:2-3; 1 Chron. 23:3; cf. Luke 3:23). This age signifies maturity, indicating that in spiritual things, especially in seeing the visions recorded in this book, there is the need of maturity in the divine life (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14-15; 3:1-2). 

Thirtieth year is the year of qualification to serve the Lord. This implies the need for growth in life and maturity to be able to serve the Lord. It is at this year that Ezekiel, the priest, began to serve. Meaning, without growing and maturing in the divine life, one cannot serve God, much less, see the vision of God under an opened heavens with a clear sky. 

This reminds me of my need for growth in life to see the heavens opened, see the visions of God, hear the expressed word of God, and experience the hand of God. The same applies to all believers alike. For God to do anything significant He needs man on earth; not mere man but man who are thirty years in age at least. Lest He be made to wait until He finds one of thirty years and above. 

I have been in fellowship with a brother concerning his family situation for quite some time now. Every time, I used the word of God to nourish him and shepherd him over phone call prayer and fellowship. This time round, I fellowshipped with him about his need to grow up in life even in the midst of all critical circumstances he has been going through. The enemy hates the growth in life of the saints, and he always tries his best to hinder the growth in life by various tactics and attacks. Often, many are caught unaware, including me, sometimes. 

This "thirty years" is a timely reminder to me and my fellow saints, our need to grow in life and be a priest serving God. Even today, I ministered the same point of truth to few young saints who visited us and also to the serving ones in the literature service in our morning fellowship.

Lord, cause the growth in me and my fellows saints! Yes, growing to thirty years and above...

Money Matters

There is a balancing line I am trying hook onto as far as handling money is concerned. Money is practically vital that it has even become the main cause of concern in every one's life. Its effect is felt in all sphere of life, be it spiritual, social or even personal. The hard lesson is not about management of money as far as I am concerned, but about "to lend or not to lend" when fellow brothers and sisters are in genuine need. I have been facing this dilemma time and again. 

When the saints need help financially and come for fellowship, should I spiritualise the matter and just ask them to trust the Lord exercising their faith? Should I simply turn them away? If I have money at hand I always would prefer to help and reckon it as a blessing. But the case as always has been is, there has hardly been any repayment, though some slow, not that it will never be repaid back. As a brother, I always love to help as long as it is within my capacity to help. And I count it all joy and blessing to be able to help. 

Recently, the Lord led me to experience the side of the lender where I have to manage at the minimal possible because almost all I have at hand have been loaned to others in need. To the extend that I myself become the one in need, save for the fact that I would not borrow from others. On considering to ask back from those to whom I have lent, I had my reservation and would prefer that they pay back on their own. When they don't payback, I am left as the victim of loaned out lender. 

Well, I don't mind being such, as this gives me the first hand experience of what is to be in lack. And how one manages one's livelihood in want; the feeling within and the faith emanating thereof to trust the Lord is worth the experience. So I got to experience being in abundance and being in lack as well. 

One thing for sure is the Lord's faithfulness in all these experiences. I am learning lessons on how to abound and how to be abased. Despite the lack, all that are necessary and needed for the family have all been well taken care. 

Though money plays a vital role in every sphere of livelihood, one must not love it, nor be lorded over by it. Money should never be one's master but always be the slave. Use money for rightful purposes and be not enslaved by it. Trust the Lord who provides and honors Him with it and lords over it.

This is my simple money matter that I have been experiencing these days.

This Rock

Matthew 16:1818 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Note from the New Testament Recovery Version

This rock refers not only to Christ but also to this revelation concerning Christ, a revelation that Peter received from the Father. The church is built on Christ and on this revelation concerning Christ.

"This rock," was what impressed me most. It was last Lord's day during the prophesying meeting that I stood up to prophesy on this very verse. After Christ had asked Simon of who He was, and he replied in the affirmative that He was the Son of the living God, the Lord revealed the matter of "this rock" to him. "Upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." As I prophesied on the truth as presented in the ministry, the Lord deeply enlightened me more on "this rock." 

This rock is Christ, it is also the revelation concerning Christ, and upon this revelation Christ will build His church. Just Christ and the revelation concerning Christ are not sufficient to build the Lord's church. There is a need for the believers who possesses the Christ and the revelation concerning Christ. These group of believers are transformed ones who have considerable measure of growth in life and maturity like Peter, who was Simon, whose name the Lord changed to Cephas, meaning, stone.

Man was made of clay, yet in regeneration and growth in life, is being transformed to become stones, even precious stones for God's building. God cannot build His house with clay, in the natural and sinful man; this clay-man must become God-man, even transformed to be "stone" fit for God's building.  Therefore, the truth concerning "this rock" is Christ, the revelation concerning Christ, and the transformed man "Christified" as stone for God's building. Such building with "this rock," the gates of Hades cannot prevail against it. 

Note on "the Gates of Hades" from the Recovery Version

Gates of Hades refers to Satan's authority or power of darkness (Col. 1:13; Acts 26:18), which cannot prevail against the genuine church built by Christ upon this revelation concerning Him as the rock, with stones such as Peter, a transformed human being. This word of the Lord's indicates also that Satan's power of darkness will attack the church. Hence, there is spiritual warfare between Satan's power, which is his kingdom, and the church, which is God's kingdom.

These Gates of Hades are actually in the fallen man, injected into the body of man as man's flesh, and into the soul of man as man's soul. For the building up of the church, the Gates of Hades needs to be dealt with. The best way to deal with the gates of Hades is using the three keys the Lord further said in verse 24 and 25.

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

25 For whoever wants to save his soul-life shall lose it; but whoever loses his soul-life for My sake shall find it.

Besides the "this rock" revelation, the following building up of the church must necessary entail the locking of the Gates of Hades by denying the self, taking up the cross and losing the soul-life. For this, much grace from the Lord is needed.

Subjectively, the meeting of the church is Gurgaon is more on "this rock" these days as the prohesying of the saints are becoming higher and higher with more and more saints speaking for the Lord and speaking forth the Lord.

Lord, grace us to be built up upon "this rock" as Your church.

Deny the Self

The "self" is the soul declaring independence from God. What a marvelous statement! 

A genuinely saved person is always dependent on the Lord. He has no meaning in life apart from the Lord. His living and conduct is always dependent on the Lord Himself. Yet here is a critical point of taking "dependence" on the Lord to one extreme. In fact, there are many who have taken this case to its extremity, to the extend that they don't listen to anybody but "the Lord." Such people have no concept of the Body of Christ and they are spiritual egoist living to themselves for themselves under the cloak of "spirituality." To them, they are overtly confident in their dependence of the Lord and generally has a hidden tag on themselves, "The Lord speaks to me.." So their attitude is, "who are you to say anything when the Lord already said?" There is no feeling for the Body, much less, care for the Body. To them all that matter is, "Thus spake the Lord!" And that's it. To me, these people are far more dangerous than a normal believer who fellowship and pray together with the fellows believers. 

Today, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body is one with the Body of Christ comprising His many believers. Since the Head and the Body cannot be separated, they are one and uniquely one. To genuinely depend on the Lord, the Head, is to depend on the members of the Body, the fellow believers. If one is genuine in seeking the Lord, he definitely would treasure the fellowship of the members of the Body. In fact, Christ does not speak from the heavens directly, but in many practical cases, He speaks through the Body, with the Body and for the Body.

In the New Testament there are many instances of the Head speaking through the Body. In fact, almost the entire Bible is written by God through men. God did not write them and sent them down from heaven as "the Book." God speaks through the prophets, priests, kings, and many others. That's how God carries out His work. And He still does the same even today.

So, to depend on the Lord is also to depend on the Body as well. 

The self has declared independence from the Lord. To deny the self is to depend on the Lord and also on the Lord's Body; the many believers in fellowship of the one Spirit. This is the message that has been shaping my Christian life these days. 

The saints, including myself, have been experiencing this dependence on the Lord and the Body these days. We indeed have been experiencing deeply this matter of depending on the Lord and on the Body for many practical matters, both great and small. Be it personal or family matter, be it professional or career, or even financial and many other matters, these days we have been enjoying a lot of fellowship. Not that we can solve one another's problems, but in sweet fellowship the Lord does speak and shows the way. This is a good understanding on denying the self; not depending on the self alone, not even merely on the Lord alone. but on the Lord as the Head and also on the Body.

Deny the self, depend on the Lord, and also on the Body! This is the best way to deny the self.