Ministry of the Word in Kanpur

After almost half a year of praying for another literature tour in the Hindi heartland, finally my sky became clear to take the trip. It was my second trip to Kanpur, the first one being almost two years ago when a brother, who read the ministry books and visited us in Gurgaon, invited us to visit him and his coworkers, whom I and another brother spent about five hours fellowshipping with five pastors on "the Holy Spirit", the truth concerning the Spirit and the subjective experiences of the Spirit in our spirit as well. These were the five group of pastors that i visited this time again.

Once in Kanpur, I was requested to minister for half an hour to five co-working pastors. But as we fellowshipped, the Lord’s speaking was very sweet and strong, it went upto an hour, though they all like to continue I had to stop as another meeting was beginning. The pastors were so seeking that what was planned for half an hour eventually turned out to be five hours fellowship later on. 

Though the pastor who hosted us had their fasting prayer meeting that day, he felt led by the Lord to hand over the entire meeting to me, asking me to minister the word. Later he testified that, that day morning as he prayed for the day's schedule, the Lord told him not to do anything. He was surprised. But when he met us he realised it was because the Lord would send us for the ministry of the word that he had to do nothing. After the first session with the pastors, the next session was with the whole church who came for fasting prayer meeting. 

I reckoned it was the Lord's sovereign arrangement and ministered the word to the saints who were hungry for the word. The instant speaking of the Lord was on calling upon the name of Jesus and the power therein, household salvation according to our faith,  and eating and praying the word of God. Out of their sincere seeking hearts they even video and audio recorded the entire speaking. The translator himself, a pastor, was so supplied as he translated for me into Hindi. After releasing my burden I asked them to share whatever they enjoyed. A couple of them stood up and testified of how much nourishment they received from the ministry of the word. 

The main pastor requested me to minister again in the afternoon. The burden was then on the mystery of human; God's eternal purpose, the creation of the tripartite man with the function of the body, soul and spirit, and the subjective experience of Christ in our spirit and the dealing needed for our soul. The believers were so hungry that many of them were taking notes, and "amening" the words as I ministered. 

Later in the evening, another meeting was arranged by another pastor. The ministry of the word was on the name, Jesus Christ and Emmanuel in Matthew 1:21 & 23, and the Priesthood in 1 Peter 2:5, 9 with a strong emphasis on all the believers in the New Testament being a priest with the function of the priesthood: living in the presence of God, representing God to people, and representing people to God. These group of believers too were as seeking as the other group. Out of their thirst for the word, I felt as I ministered the word that they just drew the word of God out of my being.

The following day, we were taken to a nearby town where the biggest Christian group in Utter Pradesh was holding their youth conference. A meeting was arranged with the key leader, the bishop and few other leaders. With all of my heart I ministered the word to them as I introduced the ministry books. The leaders order all the books we introduced to them in Hindi and also in English. As a gift I gave to the four Bishops, The Orthodoxy of the Church by Watchman Nee, and some other selected titles too, to the main leaders. It was there that the Lord made arrangement for our next destination, Lucknow and Varanasi as we did not have any contact for these two cities. 

Again in the evening, we were asked to minister to another group of Christians with a specific burden on living an overcoming life. These believers too were so seeking that the word of God was being drawn out of our innermost being as rivers of living water. 

The visit to Kanpur was truly marvelous. May the Lord gain His strong testimony in this city. Despite the outward political situation the word of God is prevailing. 

Kanpur for Christ and the Church! 

Jehovah's Anointed

1 Sam. 26:9 - But David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against Jehovah’s anointed and be guiltless? 
1 Sam. 26:11 - Jehovah forbid that I should stretch out my hand against Jehovah’s anointed. Now therefore take the spear that is by his head and the water jug, and let us go. 

The same title, "Jehovah’s anointed" is used in verses 16 and 23 by David in addressing Saul, his "enemy," signifying how much David was living under the authority of God despite his being chased to kill by the very king he honored as "Jehovah’s anointed." Later, he called Saul, "my lord", "the king of Israel", though he knew fully well that the kingdom of Israel had already been transferred to him. But as long as Saul was alive, though he rebelled against God, the anointing upon him as a king did not cease. And David wisely honored that, and called him, "Jehovah’s anointed." Besides, he knew his humble beginning and addressed himself as "a single flea", "a patridge", and declared that it did not behoove the king of Israel to hunt for him, a despicable creature. 

1 Sam. 26:18 - And he said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?
1 Sam. 26:19 - Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is Jehovah who has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering; but if it is the sons of men, let them be cursed before Jehovah; for they have driven me out today, so that I cannot share in Jehovah’s inheritance, saying, Go, serve other gods.
1 Sam. 26:20 - Now therefore do not let my blood fall to the ground apart from the presence of Jehovah; for the king of Israel has come forth to seek a single flea, as one might hunt a partridge in the mountains. 

As I read this portion of the word in a train on my way back from the North East, the Lord’s speaking was so rich. The authority set up by God stands tall. Whomever God anointed to be functioning in any area of His service one must honor and respect, not as man but as Jehovah’s anointed. Any act of rebellion, inward or outward, will only command curses, and otherwise blessings. Though I knew this truth, I am being reminded again and again of my need to submit to any authority set up by God. In fact, there are authorities every where. Be it in the church or without, in offices, on the road, in institutions, everywhere. This is how God administrates the universe, and blessed are those who see, know, and submit to God's authority. 

I fear for some of my Christian brethren who are so vocal on social media under the guise of freedom of speech, voicing their rebellious opinion against the establishment just because the one on authority is of different ideology which may be anti-Christian. Well, I may not agree with such ideologies, and am opposed to their many anti-Christian deeds, but deep within, as a citizen of this country,  I submit to the rulers, God in His sovereignty has ordained. Never would I agree nor be a part of it with all the ungodly deeds, but as law abiding citizen, within the bound of the scriptures, I submit to the rulership as long as it does not go against the holy word of God. In fact, I pray for the leaders of this country that God would use them for His purpose to be done on this earth. 

Submission to authority is a very precious lesson every Christian, in fact, every human being, has to learn. Submission is not weakness, nor cowardice. Submission is strength and rebellion is weakness. Submission to Jehovah's anointed is submission to God, whoever he or she may be. For this, one must first recognize who is Jehovah's anointed in a particular area of service, or matter. Age, seniority, experience, knowledge etc., does not mean as much as submitting to Jehovah's anointed. Even if the one of Jehovah's anointed is lesser in all degrees, still submission to such is deemed from a normal Christian and such will be the way God can pour out His blessing.

Lord, grace me to honor "Jehovah's anointed" in all walks of my life.  

Marriage Matrix

When I was a young single brother, some elder brothers who were already married and were helping younger ones married told me this paradox, "Marriage is the true test of spirituality." To my understanding, it means in choosing a life partner our true color comes out by the way we choose. Looks, status, wealth, fame, popularity,  etc., are the key deciders that all reflects who a person truly is. Yes, there are rooms for all these, but above all, the questions to consider thoughtfully are, "Do you allow God to choose in your choosing? Have you prayed enough to the extend that you have God's crystal clear leading to who your spouse should be? Have you consecrated your life, your marriage, and your family-to-be to the Lord?" If our answer to the above questions are on the affirmative, a marriage decision making is pretty simple and easy. God will honor the faith in Him and will give the best match. By the way, one point to remember is, "Do not presume to know anybody better than the Lord Himself. The creator of the bride and the groom knows fully well their past, present,  and future to be." Blessed are those who trusts the Lord’s perfect arrangement, they shall have a blessed marriage life. 

Many so called good and spiritual saints are slaves to their own fantasy-dream of ideal partner that never existed. No wonder, many sisters are still spinsters, and many brothers, bachelor boys. Only if they learn to submit in simplicity to God's sovereignty, they would have been serving the Lord as families by now. 

The Lord had mercy on me and when my time came I simply had one prayer and jus one choice, "Lord, Your will be done." I even prayed many many times, "Lord, deliver me from myself, my own choices, likes, tastes.... Do not allow what is not of You. Even if I unknowingly rebel against Your will, I pray, 'Stop it!' even to the point of sending disease, and taking my life." By praying such prayer for years, the Lord prepared me for the D day. He had dealt with me severely for one year for trying to voice my preference and choice. Having learned my lesson, I submit myself fully to the Lord. So when the time came, without any struggling, I simply could say, "Amen!"

Inward peace and joy, outward circumstances, all worked together for my marriage. Praise the Lord! God has blessed me and my wife with three children now! 

Recently, four marriages of four different brothers made be reconsider this matter of marriage deeply. Even the old sayings came to pass that marriage is the true test of spirituality. It indeed exposes the inward being of a person. Four cases are:

Case One: A brother who was from an idolatrous background was entirely by himself and always made business as excuses for not meeting the saints or coming to the meeting or praying or reading the Bible. He got married to his girlfriend of the same background he was saved from. My feeling was a mixture of joy and sadness mingling, and still hope,  one day he would be recovered back. 

Case Two: A brother who used to be very jealous for the Lord many years ago has gradually become very worldly. He began to expose himself in social media of all that he really is and got married to an unbeliever of his love life. It was so sad that he would not even open up for fellowship to fellow believers. For love of a person who does not love the Lord, should one abandon the Lord? I believe the Lord will recover this brother and his family one day too. 

Case Three: A brother,  who I lead to the Lord and even baptised, has been doing well in his professional life. Due to his busy schedule and lack of shepherding he somehow was aloof from the church life. Nevertheless, I tried my best to call and pray with him now and then. Though he asked me to find a sister for him, I could find none that would match him as he and his family has special preferences. Thank God, he found one and got married. And promised me that he would bring her to the church life after marriage. Only the grace of God can shepherd the couple into the normal church life. May the Lord recover them soon. 

Case Four: A brother married to a sister of whom I even was a speaker in his wedding meeting. This brother is very clear from the very beginning that he stands for the truth of the Bible and would remain so, and he made this his condition for marriage. He is determined to bring his wife into the enjoyment of the church life. May the Lord bless this couple for His testimony in their city. 

All the above marriages are clear indication of what kind of brothers these brothers are, and what kind of heart they have towards the Lord and His church. The first two have not been shepherded into the proper Christian life and ended up in a heathen marriage. The last two are holy matrimony and both have made a strong decision to bring their spouses into the church life. In all their marriages, their true conditions were fully revealed. Nevertheless, may the Lord gain them all as they are genuinely saved brothers. 

These marriages matrices are kind of complex. However, there are formulas to straighten them. May the Lord gain these marriages for His testimony! 

Shepherding according to God

1 Pet. 5:2 - Shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion but willingly, according to God; not by seeking gain through base means but eagerly. 
Note from the Recovery Version: I.e., according to God’s nature, desire, way, and glory, not according to man’s preference, interest, and purpose. 

These days shepherding has been the main concern among all the churches and among all the serving ones here in India. I have also been so much burdened for shepherding. Though I have been shepherding I am not too sure if it was according to God. The phrase, "according to God," is what matters most to me. 

As I was spending time in the Word of God on shepherding, studying different scripture portions with prayer, I was so enlightened to see the importance and depth of shepherding, and how it is closely related to carrying out the Lord’s testimony and fulfilling His eternal purpose on the earth. 

In fact, the same week's morning revival also was on the same burden. The ministry helps me a lot in my understanding of shepherding. 

A light on "according to God": God is well known by His divine attributes of love, light, holiness and righteousness. To shepherd according to God is to shepherd according to His love, light, holiness and righteousness! This sentence itself is a yardstick to check the genuineness of my shepherding thus far. Since God’s love is unconditional and eternal, my shepherding should also be such. I was exposed at the choice I used to make for who and on what condition to shepherd. It is truly easy to choose the good sheep for shepherding. But in many cases, what I have are only bad sheep and black sheep. Thank God for this revelation. 

I am glad that the Lord gave me a particular sheep that need special attention and care all the time. He's been given up by his own relative too. Somehow, I have been graced to shepherd him, not by weekly visit or giving messages, but by living together with him. When things were not good, the Lord reminded me "to shepherd according to God" with much love and tender care. Come what may, shepherd his soul until full grown and maturity in life. 

Similarly, the Lord's speaking is the same for all that I have been shepherding, both individuals and families. Which means, I must take God as my life and living to be able to shepherd according to God. Under the life dispensing of God, with His divine light shining, and His divine love flowing, in His holiness and righteousness, in oneness with Him, the shepherding work of the saints must be carried out. In this way, the Body of Christ will be builded up to fulfill God’s eternal purpose. 

The following Lord's day, I released my burden to the saints in the church in Gurgaon on being under the Lord's shepherding and in turn carrying out the work of shepherding according to God.

Praise the Lord for this commission of shepherding according to God!

Lord, train me to be a shepherd according to God. 

An Army Officer

A Colonel's wife, whom the Lord introduced in Gurgaon for fellowshipping on the word of God, introduced another officer who is a seeking sister at the moment posted in Guwahati. When I was in Guwahati during the training for serving ones, she tried to contact and visit me but we eventually met after the training on the Lord's day. 

She was so joyful to meet with us though it was her first time. Her testimony of joining our prophesying meeting was awesome. She said, "I felt like entering into paradise with all the saints in one accord saying 'amen' to one another's speaking, with many 'hallelujahs and praise the Lords' ." I was so joyful to hear such joyful words from a new one,a nd that too who joined our meeting for the first time.

Later, over lunch with a brother and I, we had a fellowship that lasted for six long hours. Initially, I listened to her of all that she had to say about her life, the sufferings she went through, how she got saved, baptised, and her experiences with different other Christian groups, the persecution she faced from her family as she is the first and only one who was saved so far, and her hunger for fellowship on the word of God. Then, I fellowshipped at length on the basic of a Christian life, as simple as reading the word, calling upon the Lord's Name, which she urgently needed, prayer, and fellowshipping with the saints in a local church. 

She was so joyful, and in between, to my count, she was in tears at least thrice, for the joy of meeting with fellow believers who fed her with the healthy teaching of the word of God.

Surprisingly, just before I left Guwahati, she came to meet a local sister that I introduced her to. That made us meet one more time as I was lodge in the same saint's house. I strengthened the burden for her to pray for her family salvation and gifted two books, The Economy of God and Enjoying the Lord through Prayer and the Word. It was so joyful to witness new ones enjoying fellowshipping on the word of God and prayer.

The next day as I left for Guwahati and was praying for all the new ones, the Lord burdened me specifically for this army officer who needed proper shepherding. Then I wrote the following message for her spiritual exercise. 

Reminder : Exercise for God's Army
1) Love the Lord Jesus Christ; our first love toward the Lord must be our best love for Him.
Matthew 22:37 - And He said to him, “ *You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.*”
Matthew 22:38 - This is the great and first commandment.
Matthew 22:39 - And the second is like it:  “ *You shall love your neighbor as yourself*.”
Matthew 22:40 - On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. 
Both commandments, the commandment to love God and the commandment to love man, are a matter of love. Love is the spirit of God’s commandments.

2) Eat the word* of God daily.
John 6:57 - As the living Father has sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me. 
The best way to eat the Lord in the word is by reading and praying,  pray-reading, the word of God.
Reading the Bible is a battle. But you are the winner, only if you fight. *Be disciplined, and read the Bible daily and diligently*. God will speak to you through His words, and that will be your reward!

3) Exercise your spirit to pray unceasingly. 
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Unceasingly pray. 
1 Timothy 4:7 - But the profane and old-womanish myths refuse, and exercise yourself unto godliness.
1 Timothy 4:8 - For bodily exercise is profitable for little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the present life and of that which is to come. 
The best way to pray is to call upon the Lord's name: Lord Jesus Christ! Breathe yourself out and breathe Christ in. At all times; good times or bad times, sad times or happy times, just call on the name of Jesus silently or out loud. That will be your daily salvation. 

4) Exercise your faith, claim the promises of God, and command God according to His Words.
Isaiah 45:11 -  Thus says Jehovah, The Holy One of Israel and the One who formed him, Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And concerning the work of My hands, command Me. 

5) Pray for your family salvation until all of them are indeed saved. Yes, all of them. Including your friends, colleagues, seniors and juniors in your profession.
Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.

6) Meet and fellowship with the believers in the local church. 
Hebrews 10:24 - And let us, consider one another so as to incite one another to love and good works,
Hebrews 10:25 - Not abandoning our own assembling together, as the custom with some is, but  exhorting one another; and so much the more as you see the day drawing near. 

7) Alert! Beware of false teachers and fake churches who do ministry for themselves; their own name, fame, glory, money, and their own ministry. Genuine ministry causes spiritual growth with the help of the above six exercises, and builds up the believers for the building up of the Body of Christ.
Ephesians​ 4:11 - And He Himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as shepherds and teachers,
Ephesians​ 4:12 - For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ,
Ephesians​ 4:13 - Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Ephesians​ 4:14 - That we may be no longer little children tossed by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching in the sleight of men, in craftiness with a view to a system of error,
Ephesians​ 4:15 - But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ,
Ephesians​ 4:16 - Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love. 
(All Bible verses and notes are from the Holy Bible, Recovery Version.)

A Brother's Marriage

On an invitation, and the care and concern for a brother I decided to attend a brother's marriage in Tezpur. When the matter was first brought up, my main concern was the fellowship in the Body and the oneness among the brothers concerning the marriage. And I told the brother, "I am for the Body and if all the brothers feels good about your marriage and me to minister the word as requested I would gladly do it. But everything must be done in fellowship." Few weeks alter, when the brother confirmed again, my burden was mainly to shepherd him and his wife to be, and release the word of God for the sake of the seekers for the lord's testimony in Tezpur. 

It was 9th of May, my first time to visit this city. A warm welcome with a good hospitality was in place. The next day, the 10th of May, the wedding day, the burden the Lord gave me was to minister on three lines. But I was not clear how to word them properly. Only when I was in the wedding meeting waiting for my turn to speak, the Lord gave me clear words. When my turn came for ministering the word of God, I ministered and later texted the saints who were praying for this meeting. 

Dears Saints, 

Praise the Lord and thank you for your prayer. 

The wedding meeting of a brother went well. The ministry of the word was on three lines: The Meaning of a Human Life as there was a sizable attendants of unbelievers, The Meaning of a Christian Life addressed to the attendants of believers, and The Meaning of a Marriage Life specifically addressed to the bride and the groom along with all the married attendants.

Besides, we had fellowship with some seekers and ministry books distribution. 

Pray for the couple, brother T_____ and sister J___, that they may love Christ and the church and love one another, be one with the Body and one with one another, for the Lord's testimony in Tezpur.

Overall, my main emphasis was on Christ and Christ alone. A human life, Christian life, and marriage life must be centered on Christ. Else all are vanities of vanities. I also strengthened the point on consecration as a couple to the Lord from day one of marriage life,  loving Christ as first and best love and loving one another, and praying and reading the Bible together as a couple and as a family too. Besides, marriage is for the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose and is just a symbol of Christ and the Church. 

After the meeting, quite a number of attendants from the bride and bridegroom's side came and appreciated the timely message delivered. It was all the Lord's speaking as I was graced to be a channel.  

May the Lord bless the couple and gain the church in Tezpur! 

A Visit to Shillong

Shillong was never in my itinerary this time. Though I have been very burdened for the saints and the church there, I did not deem it right to visit without a proper fellowship from the brothers there and also from the brothers overseeing the Lord's work in that region. I was glad to meet two of the responsible brothers who attended the training in Guwahati. 

One day during the training break, one of the brothers from Shillong came to me and said, "Brother, the saints in Shillong came to know about your being in Guwahati and they invited you to visit them!" It was a surprise and a shock to me. My simply reply was, if the brothers really felt I should visit, only in fellowship, I can: Yes, after proper fellowship with all the brothers concerned. Even after this, I still did not think I should indeed visit as I thought I was not prepared and did not make any plan either. 

The next day, a leading brother from Shillong invited me again, and later he reconfirmed it through another brother that the saints indeed wanted me to visit. Then I fellowshipped with the brothers serving the Lord's work and also with leading brothers from the North East. They all felt good, and then only I made the decision and visited Shillong. A surprise visit for me and them as well. Nevertheless, God knew best. 

In Shillong, the first thing the saints told me was, "Brother, Praise the Lord! As a church we were praying yesterday for your visit. Now, the Lord answered our prayers." When I heard this I was so moved in my being by the saints' love, and much more by their thirst for fellowshipping on the word of God. 

Later we had long hours of fellowship as the Lord's speaking was so dear and sweet. I texted the local church where I came from as an update of the visit, the date was 8th May 2017:

Dear Saints, 

Praise the Lord and thank you for your prayer. The Lord blessed our fellowship last night with the saints in the church in Shillong. 

We fellowshipped from 6:30 pm till 12:30 am, with three group of saints organically in three informal sessions. And this morning another fellowship over breakfast till 10 am. The Lord's timely speaking was very sweet and rich. 

May the Lord continue to shepherd the saints with the ministry of the word into the oneness and fellowship of the Body of Christ. Amen.

On all organically arranged sessions, the main things fellowshipped were:

• The name of Jesus, how wonderful, powerful, and sweet when we call on Him. I strengthened this burden for all the saints experience and enjoyment of their Christina life. 
• Household salvation, as many saints were the only one saved in their families. The Lord burdened me to share at length with testimonies, the importance of claiming God’s word using Acts 16:31 and Isaiah 45:11. 
• Reading and praying the word of God with an emphasis on daily pursuit of the Lord in His word by regular daily Bible reading and prayer. 

After the fellowship I gifted the saints two ministry books: The Orthodoxy of the Church and Enjoying Christ as the Word and the Spirit through Prayer. 

The next day morning, a sister whom I baptised when I first visited Shillong came for fellowship over breakfast. She was an MD of a Govt. Dept. then,  and now just retired. It was a joy to fellowship on the word of God and testify to one another what the Lord has done and has been doing. 

After all these fellowships, I was clear why the Lord took me there. The Lord knows the best, and I simply have to follow Him step by step. 

Lord, bless the church in Shillong! 

May the Lord gain His testimony all over Meghalaya!