Blessed Bread

When the religious Christianity was busy with their "Good-Friday-Easter" weekend, being a general holiday, as a church we decided to feast on the blessed bread of the word of God by coming together for prayer and pursuing the truth. When the proposal was made, it was responded with grim and doubt: Would the saints come the whole day just for pursuing the truth? 

Yes, indeed. The appetite of the saints have changed significantly. Though we are all from Christianity background, through the course of our church life, our spiritual taste buds have been much sharpened, and our appetite for the pure word of God have grown much more than ever. We don't need any outward attraction to bring the saints together, nor do we need to worry about the ministering of the word at any length; the saints are hungry for the blessed bread of the word of God. Just the word of God, with prayer, and the Spirit is more than sufficient to shepherd the saints and blend them together. Gone are the days of running after emotional praise and worship, charismatic preacher, signs and wonders, and the likes. Blessed bread meets them all!

As we gathered that weekend, we delved into the depth of the word on the recovery of the truth concerning God, Christ, the Spirit, the eternal life, the believers, the church, the oneness of the church, and the ground of oneness, it took us three days and still not sufficient enough. We decided to pursue every Lord's day after the Lord's table meeting, prophesying meeting, and the lovefeast.

My greatest joy was in pursuing the truth with the saints together. Everyone participating in asking questions and others answering in mutuality. Some of the critical questions asked were very good for my exercise to use the word and answering in spirit. I got helped and the saints too. Praise the Lord!

This kind of meeting was very helpful; it went beyond a formal meeting which was uni-directional in nature, but this was bi-directional in mutuality where the actual need of the saints could be addressed. They would not have dared to asked question freely in big meetings, even if they did, it could not have been addressed better. Now I am absolutely convinced through experience that what the saints really need is the "Blessed Bread" of the word of God; word of God ministered in spirit and in prayer.

To this extend, I have told the brothers and sisters that the Lord has indeed blessed the saints in the church in Gurgaon with His blessed bread as evident from their hunger for the word, backed up by their lives and testimonies.

Lord, bless us with Your blessed bread always for the blending and building up of Your Body.

Clear Sky

Ezekiel 1:26 And above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, like the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was One in appearance like a man, above it.

Above the coordinated living creatures is a clear sky with a man on the throne having the appearance of a sapphire stone. This implies that whenever there is a proper coordination on the earth, there will also be a clear sky. A cloudy sky is always the result of lack of coordination. For such a clear sky, all the cloud that obstruct the heavenly vision must be dealt. All the offenses and condemnations in our conscience must be thoroughly dealt with, in order to have a clear sky. The more severe the dealing is, the clearer the sky will become. The same principle applies to our "personal sky", "family sky", and "official sky" before the Lord as well.

These days I have been experiencing subjectively the matter of a clear sky. Since the past five weeks my official sky was kind of cloudy. I had to take a couple of important decisions, but I just could not do that instantly. I brought the matters before the Lord in prayer again and again, and also fellowshipped with the concerned brothers and sisters. At times, the decision was leaning toward one direction, yet other times, it swing back to the opposite direction. For few days and even week, I had to consider and reconsider before the Lord and fellowship with my coordinator-brother, again and again. After these swinging in a cloudy sky, my official sky became clearer and clearer. The matters of concern were made clearer and clearer before the Lord until all were being cleared off completely.

This clearance did not happen at one go; it happened case by case, matter by matter. Some of them I had to bring it before the Lord on my knees until I was fully clear what decision to take. As my sky got cleared I executed the decision the following official working day, and now almost all of them got executed. Had it not been for the knowledge of Jehovah and His leading by the clear sky, I would have been tempted to make my own naturally good decisions apart from God; that would have been a disaster. After much careful consideration and prayer before the Lord, all the decisions taken were truly of the Lord, and I had much peace within and the parties involved were also very happy and were at peace. 

What a grace to be able to learn this lesson of having a "clear sky" before the Lord! Once our sky is clear it means we are under the throne of God, under the direct ruling of God ,and what follows is the presence of God.

Today a brother called me concerning his complicated family situation. Initially I had nothing to response to his fellowship. But in the midst of the phone call fellowship the Lord gave me a clear sky to fellowship with my brother about a clear sky. At length I encouraged him to go before the Lord and clear up any offenses between himself and the Lord, and also with his wife until his family sky would become crystal clear. I told him that only then his complex circumstance would be crystal clear to know the Lord's leading.

I also gave a testimony to the church last Lord's day about how I cleared my sky before the Lord in prayer and dealing with all matters that needed to be dealt with, and how the Lord led me on and on, case by case, in my personal, family and official life.

Lord, grant me a clear sky in all things all the time!  

Rejection

Luke 10:16 - He who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me. 

Amidst the multitude of seekers there are some who are not simply open for fellowship. Some are of the gentiles and some even from the among the children of God. Though I generally have burdens for all people alike, especially those on my list of prayer, I dare not force myself to meet them if they are not open nor are willing to meet. 

Rejection among believers who were once very close to me was saddening. But what can be done, except pray for them? The burden the Lord imparted into me did not die down just because they have differing attitude towards me or the ministry I am in. Instead, it burdened me more to pray for them that the Lord would shower more grace and blessing upon them. I am not important, only the Lord is. So long as they do not reject the Lord, I am at peace. Still there is hope as their faith and love toward the Lord is still alive. 

The past few weeks I have been experiencing some kind of rejection. In fact one brother informed me that he has nothing against me personally but was not in favor of the ministry I am involved in. So he politely turned down my request for meeting and fellowship as Christian brothers. Well, to me, I am nothing, whether liked or disliked, it really doesn't matter. But having a problem with the ministry of the word of God that I am in, it's better not to be a accepted as well. For, I am for the Lord and His ministry. The Lord and the Lord's ministry are much more important than me. Acceptance of me as an individual without accepting the ministry of the word I enjoiy is not very pleasing. But I have to bear the victim card of "ministry discrimination." Though that brother is not accepting the ministry I am in, his acceptance of me as a person is actually a rejection of me. To me, I and the ministry I am in, are one. Either I face acceptance for both, or else I count it rejection for both too. 

There are other kind of rejection too. Some, due to their conscience being pricked for the unrighteousness deeds that they have done, of which I pointed out. Though I did with a good intention to help them take the righteous path, they could not cope up with the righteous stand I put forward. Such people, I can only pray for,  that the Lord would have mercy on them to come clean, righteous, and pure in all their undertaking. I have been experiencing this matter with one such brother. Though he respected me, something improper have just marred the relationship we used to enjoy as Christian brothers. I would rather wait until he come clean or apologise and restore the fellowship. I still pray for him as Christian brother.

Yet there is also a case of one brother who simply turned a deaf ear to my call for fellowship. He simply is not willing to meet at all, for reasons known only to him. For whatever reason, he always has an excuse whenever I proposed for meeting. To such, the Lord's leading is to wait until the proper time comes when he himself would request and beg for fellowship. 

In all the above cases, the Lord taught me one lesson: Never to force my self into meeting people if they are not willing to meet. I had to subdue my own burden to meet them. And I must learn this lesson thoroughly well. 

Though I have ways to still meet them if I had to force myself to, the Lord taught me never to go ahead until they willingly invite. Until they opened up to peacefully and joyfully invite me to meet and fellowship with them, I must wait and wait, as long as it takes. I have to simply leave the matter to the Lord. 

The Lord knows the best. Perhaps, my burden to meet them may just be natural which the Lord hates. Or perhaps, the timing is just not ripe. Or perhaps, I am not ready as yet to be a blessing to them, and the Lord is waiting and working on me to prepare me as His useful vessel. Whatever the case, he who rejects Me rejects the Lord,  as long as I am one with the Lord. 

Such experiences of rejection is also a blessing in disguise. It very much help in self-denial and nullify the "I" factor, and trust the Lord fully. Amen. 

Rejection can also be a blessing in disguise.

On My Knees

Being on knees in prayer is not a religious posture. Perhaps, it may be with some if done without exercising the spirit in prayer. I have been on my knees all my Christian life whenever I pray, if it was conducive. I have no religious obeisance in being on my knees in prayer, but I definitely experienced the sincerity, genuineness, and seriousness while praying as such, not that my prayers were of lesser degree without such. For any serious matter that I would bring before God I would prefer to do so on my knees. Though I am not obligated to do so, nor that I could not pray without it. It is just my personal preference, if conducive, to be on my knees in prayer.

Of late, I have been led to be on my knees for some serious matters. I had decided that I would relocate my family and the office, and had done all preliminary works. After intensive research on new premises, one night I was strongly led by the Lord to be on my knees and reconsider my decision. 

I am a person who does not make decision easily but once I have decided I hardly change. Besides, my house and office owner requested me to continue with his terms of a 10% increase in rental. To me it was logically not acceptable as the premises need urgent attention on maintenance and repair works, and I had other choices too. Despite all these logical reasons, the Lord brought me down to my knees and taught me a lesson of self-denial. Then on my knees, I "amen" the Lord's speaking against all my opinions and preferences. The following day I texted my house owner of my decision to continue in the same premises, and also related the matter to my coordinator and the church brothers.  

Right after this decision, a heavy burden weighing me for over a month now was lifted off. All negative feelings within concerning the property and its owner were also subdued. Messages of blessing were exchanged between me and my house owner. 

Decisions of self-denial is not easy lesson to learn. Self-pride and self-respect can be dealt with only by the Lord when one has the grace to receive "defeat" in ones's decisive opinion, and is willing to leave the matter entirely in the hand of the Lord. Such experience, at best, can be subjective when one humble himself in prayer on his knees. And in so doing, I believe, I am the blessed one. As far as ego is concerned, I may be the "loser", but in spiritual experience, I am the "winner." So now I am happily continuing in the same premises trusting the Lord to bountifully supply and meet the extra need of 10% increase. In God's School of Economy, when the demand is higher, the supply is even higher.

Another incident was with a brother who I have been caring for and who has been fighting a difficult battle of overcoming his past habit. As I fellowshipped with him to help him out, I strongly felt led by the Lord to bring him to his knees for prayer. On our knees, we prayed together; he confessed his sins and begged the Lord to deliver him completely, in tears. I knelt with him and supported him in prayer too. Then he reconsecrated himself to the Lord afresh. Right after such prayer, deep within me, I was confirmed by the Lord that "its done," the prayer and consecration accepted. I stood and left and did not feel any further need to say anything. Since this experience, my hidden fear concerning him has been eased, I now feel relieved about him and trust the Lord would definitely gain him.

These are just two recent experiences of effective prayer on my knees.

Seeking Sister

Yesterday I received a surprise call from a sister who introduced herself as a friend of another sister whose family I used to visit for family fellowship. She further said, she was so hungry for the word of God that on her enquiry that sister introduced me as a brother "well versed with the Scriptures," a phrase which I would hardly use for myself as I never reckon myself to be such. It was the mercy of the Lord that some seekers were supplied through the ministry of the word, for the word is the word of God and it supplies life, irrespective of who ministers it. The word of God is full of life and Spirit. What a blessing to be able to taste the word and minister the same to others in need!

Today, she came as she promised and the Lord graced me to minister the word at length, for about one and half hour. She was so seeking that she just drew the word of God out of me as I ministered. Though she professed herself to be "prophetess" and have been doing signs and wonders, and into many superstitious-supernatural-spiritual stuffs, she has the grace to realise that she is desperately hollow in the knowledge, understanding, revelation and constitution of the word of God. I was glad for her frankness and openness. That gave me full freedom to speak boldly the word as the Spirit led me. 

First, I explained what prophet and prophesying means in the light of ministering God in Christ as life through the word, backing up with Scripture verses in the Old Testament from the book of Ezekiel on prophesying to dry bones and 1 Cor. 14.

I also confirmed to her that to minister life we must first be filled with life. But to be filled with life, we must be filled with the word. And the way to be filled with the word is by reading the word of God with our eyes, understanding with our mind, and digesting with our spirit. Besides, I expounded John 6 on the line of eating the Lord as the Bread from heaven, of life, living, and true.  As a foretaste we pray-reading John 6:63.

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 

As we read and prayed over the verse, she was so supplied that she exclaimed in praise to God with tears. In fact, she also spoke in tongues with ecstatically expression and exclamation in joy. This expression was nothing new to me as I had been to a couple of pentecostal meetings of such reaction. And she acknowledged in thanks that she has been so much nourished with the word of God. She expressed her desire to come for the fellowship and for the study of the word regularly,  and even, perhaps, join the training in the truth. May the Lord continue to supply and feed her until she is gained for His eternal purpose. 

By the way, she is a local Gurgaoan, the first to be saved in her whole family, the wife, daughter and sister of Army officers; for her husband, father and brother are all from reputed rank of Indian army. May the Lord bless her richly with the word and save her whole family for the Lord's testimony in Gurgaon. 

The Lord has indeed reserves His remnants in this city for His testimony. May our sister be a channel to gain such remnants. 

Shining Star

Matt. 2:1 - Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 

Matt. 2:2 - Saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star at its rising and have come to worship Him. 

Note from the Recovery Version Bible 

The Jews had the Scriptures concerning Christ. The magi from the east saw Christ’s star (Num. 24:17). The Jews had mental knowledge in dead letters concerning Christ, whereas the magi received a living vision concerning Him. After receiving the living vision, the magi were misled by their human concept and went to Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish nation, where its king was presumed to be. Their being misled caused many young boys to be killed (v. 16). After the magi were corrected by the Scriptures (vv. 4-6), they went to Bethlehem (vv. 8-9), and the star appeared to them again and led them to the place where Christ was (vv. 9-10). 

Last Lord's day in our Hindi meeting we read and fellowshipped on Matthew 2. As I ministered the word to the saints, the living word flowed forth like a river when the speaking of the Lord was on following the shining star that leads to Christ. 

The magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, but the shining star definitely did not lead them to Jerusalem, for Jesus was not born there. The star led them from their Locality in the east all the way and they followed faithfully until the vicinity of Bethlehem. But as they journeyed nearby the city of Jerusalem their human wisdom was applied and they stopped following the shining star. It was indeed humanly wise to reckon that the king of the Jews would indeed be born in the King's Palace in a kingly city of Jerusalem. But they were foolishly mistaken in their human wisdom, which led them to Herod, the king. 

Now that they had spilled the bean, Herod became aware of such a tragic news. Their human wisdom ignited the jealousy and wrath of the king that ultimately led to the murder of innocent babies, two years and under. That was how wise they were, when they stopped following the shining star. 

Spiritually, that is how many Christians follow the Lord. The shining star is the Lord Jesus Christ as the life-giving Spirit dwelling in the human spirit. The Spirit is the shining star that Christians must follow steadfastly and faithfully all the way to the end. Alas, many have began well in their Christian walk by following the Spirit, but only to a certain point. Then they apply their human wisdom and trust in their own human understanding and discernment rather than the Spirit. And the result is, a total mess, invoking the wrath of the enemy and leading to the "murder of innocent babies", resulting in sufferings, pains and woes. This often is my spiritual experience too. And the saints to whom I ministered this words are suffering the same pain as they left the Lord and the fellowship of the brothers in the church for few years. 

But still there is a reason to praise the Lord. The star did not disappear due to our folly, it waited and waited to be followed on, the Spirit still waits until we turn back to Him for His further leading. 

Matt. 2:9 - And after they heard the king, they went their way, and behold, the star which they saw at its rising led them until it came and stood over the place where the child was.Matt. 2:10 - And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.Matt. 2:11 - And they came into the house and saw the child with Mary His mother. And falling down, they worshipped Him; and opening their treasures, they offered gifts to Him, gold and frankincense and myrrh.Matt. 2:12 - And because they had been divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed by another way to their country. 

Finally, as they continued to follow the shining star, it led them to where Jesus was born. The result, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy! Whenever we follow the Spirit the issue always is life, peace,  and joy!

Though we fail often trusting in our own understanding and wisdom, the Spirit is always there waiting for us to turn to Him. Whatever mistakes we might have committed in the past, we must leave them behind. Now, turn to the Spirit and continue to follow Him, on and on, until the end, to meet the Lord and rejoice. And remember finally, the magi did not turn back to meet Herod again. So do not make the same mistake of the past but continue to follow the Spirit all the back to where the Spirit led us. 

I myself enjoyed the Lord's speaking even though I happened to be the human speaker. The saints were all supplied as they testified thereafter. Later, in another home meeting, the Lord led me to minister the same burden to people of my father's age, and they were supplied too. 

Lord, grace me to follow Your Spirit, the shining star,  all the days of my life. If by human wisdom I fall short, restore me by Your mercy and lead me on to follow Thee to the end, never to deviate and repeat history. 

Daniel's Supplication

Dan. 9:2b - I, Daniel, understood by means of the Scriptures the number of the years, which came as the word of Jehovah to Jeremiah the prophet, for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, that is, seventy years.

Dan. 9:3 - So I set my face toward the Lord God to seek Him in a prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 

Dan. 9:17 - And now hear, O our God, the prayer of Your servant and his supplications, and cause Your face to shine upon Your sanctuary that has been desolated, for the Lord’s sake.

Dan. 9:18 - O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city that is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You based upon any righteous doings that we have done, but based upon Your great compassion.

Dan. 9:19 - O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! Do not delay, for Your own sake, O my God; for Your city and Your people are called by Your own name. 

As I pursued the life-study of Daniel I was so enlightened by the way Daniel made his supplication to God and how God answered him instantly. I learned a very precious lesson of supplication. 

First, the supplication was based upon the word of God; meaning Daniel was a man of the word, he read and understood the word, as indicated by the phrase, "understood by means of the Scriptures". Thereby, he supplicated according to the revelation he received from the word of God. Genuine prayer issues from the revelation in the word. But for such, one must read the word. Not merely read, but understand and pray over the word.

Second, through the understanding from the word of God, Daniel made his supplication, seeking God seriously in prayer with fasting, "seek Him in a prayer and supplications with fasting". A prayer life is the issue of the burden emanating from the Lord's speaking. Without a genuine burden from the Lord, prayer would be monotonous, habitual, religious and even superstitious. With genuine burden, fasting is a spontaneous reaction, not a religious law to abide by. I personally believe, a genuine man of prayer will have a regular and normal living of fasting and prayer according to the burden the Lord imparted. 

Third, when such man of prayer prays, his full focus and burden is not  on himself or his personal and petty burdens, but on the Lord Himself. He prays for the Lord's interest and according to His economy. Daniel prayed, "cause Your face to shine upon Your sanctuary." This is definitely a prayer according to God, praying for the house of God, the Body of Christ, and for the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose.

Fourth, a man of prayer never prayed based on himself, never claiming righteousness of himself, even if there is any. He fully is aware of his own unrighteousness and supplicated base on the righteousness and compassion of God as proven by the phrase, "base on Your great compassion."

And finally, in such prayer, there is always a confession of one's sinfulness and asking for the forgiveness, not merely of his own, but of the people he represents and prays for.

Ministry excerpt from the Life-study of Daniel, message fourteen:

III. THE WAY TO OBTAIN THE VISIONIn Daniel 9:3-23 we see the way to obtain this vision—Daniel's desperate seeking of the Lord God in prayer and supplications with fasting.
A. Confessing His Sins and the Sins of the PeopleIn his prayer Daniel confessed his own sins and the sins of the kings, the chief men, and the fathers of Israel, and of all the people of Israel (vv. 3-15, 20a).
B. Supplicating for God's Interests on EarthIn his prayer Daniel also supplicated for the holy city of Jerusalem, the holy mountain of God, and the holy people of God (vv. 16-17, 19b, 20b). This means that he supplicated for all the interests of God on the earth, not for his own interest.
C. Asking the Lord to Forgive ThemFurthermore, Daniel asked the Lord to forgive them, not based upon their righteousness but based upon God's great compassion (vv. 18-19a).
D. God's Answer to Daniel's Prayer and SupplicationIn verses 21 through 23 we have God's answer to Daniel's prayer and supplication. God's answer was Gabriel's relating of the seventy weeks commanded by God. 

In his desperate prayer, Daniel requested that God recover the holy land, send His people back, and rebuild the holy city (vv. 15-19). But God answered him by giving him the report through the angel Gabriel of the seventy weeks (vv. 20-27). This answer exceeded what Daniel requested. 

My understanding concerning prayer has been uplifted. Thank God, I can follow this pattern and pray accordingly for the burden the Lord imparted to me through His word. With this understanding and burden, prayer is a joy and a treasure to grasp for. And I pray for more grace that I too can be such a man of prayer, praying according to the word of God, seeking God and His face, and praying for His holy sanctuary, even with fasting. And also enjoy the joy of answered prayer.

A precious lesson on prayer learned from Daniel's supplication. What a grace! May my life be such, my prayer life, as I learn and follow Daniel's pattern of prayer.

Lord, make me a genuine man of prayer.