Ministry of the Word in Reasi

Reasi, another district in Jammu was not in our plan, but the Lord took us to this city as well. Though to only one Christian group, we had a good time with the father and son who oversee their ministry. Again, it was an amazing testimony to hear from such elderly one who came some four decades ago with a burden and vision. Due to his old age he did not pay much heed to what we have to say, but introduced his son to us.

Our time with the brother was short but full of impact. As we did not have much time, I was given just five minutes to say whatever I need to say. Actually, that morning the Lord spoke to me from Hebrews 9:4 concerning the location of the golden incense altar as mentioned in Exodus and Hebrews. Theologically or textually speaking there seems to be contradiction in the exact location of the alter; one says, in the holy of holies, and the other says, in the holy place. But with God's divine light, this seemingly discrepancy is a marvelous revelation. I shared what I learned from the footnote of the Recovery Version Bible, the ushering of our prayer in the holy place(soul) to the holy of holies(spirit). The brothers were so enlightened to see such a vision and the preciousness of the ministry. Immediately, the pastor expressed his longing to study the word of God more and decided to place order for the Recovery Version Bible.

Besides, he also has been ministering among the youth and run a rehab center. He found it quite helpful for his ministry as well. As the ministry of the word is for all, we were glad that he was open to the ministry and was willing to spread the ministry. May the Lord spread the ministry in Reasi!

Everyday, as I spent time with the Lord in the word, the fresh speaking of the Lord has always been a life supply to whomever I spoke. If I received fresh bread from the Lord, the same bread is fresh to whomever I ministered. This is an un-refutable and undeniable fact. This is one of the reasons why I pay so much attention to spending time with the Lord in prayer and in the word daily.  In fact, on the first day we landed in Jammu city too, the Lord's morning manna was on "Jacob's Ladder" in Genesis 28:12 and John 1:51, on Christ being in the heaven and in our spirit so that we can be organically one with God when we turn to our spirit. This point of truth became a life supply throughout the day to whomever I ministered. The experiences in Reasi and Jammu were such. 

Wonderful note from the Recovery Version Bible:

Hebrews 9:44 ¹Having a golden altar and the ark of the covenant covered about everywhere with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna and Aaron's rod that budded and the tablets of the covenant,

---

4¹ Regarding the place where the incense altar stood, there is apparently a discrepancy between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Exodus 30:6 says that the incense altar was put before the veil, i.e., outside the veil. This indicates clearly that the incense altar was put in the Holy Place, which is outside the veil, not in the Holy of Holies, which is within the veil. But here it says that the Holy of Holies has the incense altar. Therefore, most Christian teachers and Bible readers have thought that some error or misconstruction must somehow have occurred. But this is not so! The apparent discrepancy has great spiritual significance, as shown by the following points:

(1) The Old Testament record of the incense altar's location implies the closest relationship between the incense altar and the ark of the testimony, over which was the propitiatory cover, where God met with His people (Exo. 30:6). The record even says that the incense altar was set before the ark of the testimony, with no mention being made of the separating veil that stood between them (Exo. 40:5).

(2) First Kings 6:22 (ASV) says that the incense "altar ... belonged to the oracle." The Hebrew word for oracle includes the meaning the speaking place of God. The oracle denotes the Holy of Holies, in which was the ark of the testimony with the propitiatory cover, where God spoke to His people. Thus, the Old Testament indicated beforehand that the incense altar belonged to the Holy of Holies. (Though the incense altar was in the Holy Place, its function was for the ark of the testimony in the Holy of Holies. On the Day of Propitiation, both the incense altar and the propitiatory cover of the ark of the testimony were sprinkled with the same blood for propitiation — Exo. 30:10; Lev. 16:15-16.) Hence, in Exo. 26:35 only the showbread table and the lampstand are mentioned as being in the Holy Place; the incense altar is not mentioned.

(3) The incense altar is related to prayer (Luke 1:10-11), and in this book we are shown that to pray is to enter the Holy of Holies (10:19) and to come to the throne of grace, which is signified by the propitiatory cover over the ark of the testimony in the Holy of Holies. Our prayer often begins with our mind, which is a part of our soul, signified by the Holy Place. But our prayer always ushers us into our spirit, signified by the Holy of Holies.

(4) On account of all the above points, the writer of this book had to consider the incense altar as belonging to the Holy of Holies. Verse 4 does not say that a golden altar was in the Holy of Holies, as the lampstand and the table were in the Holy Place (v. 2). It says that the Holy of Holies had a golden altar, because the altar belonged to the Holy of Holies. This concept fits the entire emphasis of the book of Hebrews, i.e., that we should press on from the soul (signified by the Holy Place) to the spirit (signified by the Holy of Holies).

The incense altar belongs to the oracle — the speaking place of God, i.e., the Holy of Holies. The incense altar typifies Christ in His resurrection as the sweet and fragrant incense, in which God extends to us His well-pleased acceptance. We pray with such a Christ in order to contact God that God may be pleased to speak to us. We speak to God in our prayer with Christ as the sweet incense, and God speaks to us in the sweet savor of this incense. This is the dialogue in the sweet fellowship between us and God through Christ as the sweet incense. 

Ministry of the Word in Udhampur

Udhampur, a city of Northern Command HQ of the Indian Army, is where the Lord led us for meeting with the Christian leaders for the introduction of the ministry of the word. Our first meeting was with a Christian leader with whom we spent few hours with lunch.He ws very cooperative that he promised to take these books to various other Christian leaders, workers and believers too. He also happened to be the chaplain of the Christian gathering within the army camp. May the lord use him to spread the ministry even among the soldiers of the country. 

A very significant and notable meeting was with a Christian leader who labor in the field on literature and radio program. With him too we spent considerable time with lunch. He was impressed by the word we spoke and decided to order all our publication to be displayed in his office. 

As such a literary person who was checking the translation of the Bible, I felt led to gift him a copy of the New Testament, Recovery Version. He was very happy for the gift as he deemed it helpful as reference book for his translation, teaching the Bible and preaching in a radio program. he also happened to be a key person for literature works among the Christians all over Jammu.

Though we did not have a concrete discernment of what the Lord wants to do in this city as far as raising up of His testimony is concerned, we do feel content with what the Lord has blessed us with, meeting key leaders and introducing the ministry to them. Perhaps, in time, the Lord will manifest what He desires to do in this city.

One such feeling I had while in this city was, the Lord should gain His armies for His move and I felt the urgency of it with the physical presence of so many armies. I was especially glad that the Lord has gained some high ranking army officers, and many more must be gained. All the contacts that we met in this city were actually given by a sister who is the wife of one such army officer, and she was saved in this very city. I even texted a sister who is also an army officer posted currently in the North East about the need for the Lord to gain the believers to be the Army of God. She immediately replied with a confirmation that we are indeed, as the saints of God we are the armies of God too, with a smiley.

Lord, gain Udhampur, and gain Your Army!

Ministry of the Word in Katra

Katra, a town with a mountain that has the famous Hindu idols called, Vaishno Devi, was never in our plan. This place has been thronged by thousands of pilgrims and devotees of the famous idols on the mountain. It was surprising how the government has taken up measures for idolatry by providing helicopter service, best railway station, round the clock security, non-stop power supply and the likes when many more important towns, cities, and villages are even lacking the basic amenities. 

God knew best. We came to this town to meet the main Christian leaders, in fact, four of them on two different days. We were so glad that we came here, as the Lord introduced us to a brother who had the vision and burden for this town and came all the way from down South to up North for the testimony of Jesus. We were thrilled to hear his testimony of the Lord's calling and His faithful leading. We were also shocked by how so called "great spiritual leader" had mistreated him and played religious politics over him, and even cursed his children for not being able to bring him under their authoritarian subjection against the will of the Lord. 

This brother was so open to us and the ministry. Right after introducing a couple of ministry books he decided to order all the ministry books available in his mother tongue, Tamil. Right at the first instance, we sensed that the Lord has been leading and preparing him for His testimony in Katra. He even invited us last Lord's day to share the word of God in his congregation. The ministry of the word was on "The Mystery of Human Life," "Calling upon the Lord's Name," and a time with the youth on "Prayer and Bible Reading."

This brother's house even became another base camp before we left Jammu after a ten days long ministry of the word literature journey. Before we left, I had the opportunity to spent specific time with him on "Christ and the Church" as seen and written by the apostle Paul in the New Testament with a review on Acts chapters 9 and 2. With the ministry of the word I also testified of how the Lord led me to see, know, and live the church life as revealed in the Bible.  

One notable incident was a meeting with another Christian leader who is also a theologian. He proudly told us that as theologian(those who studied theology in Bible seminary), in general, they did not recognize non-theologian and did not regard such. Not a boast nor a pride, but the fact is, I don't think they(theologians) know better the word. Perhaps, may be, or may not be at all. I was burdened to present to the theologian the simple meaning of "economy" using Greek word as in Ephesian 1:10; 3:9 and 1 Timothy 1:4. And I went further to summarize the book by Witness Lee, The Economy of God. With this little introduction his concept was changed instantly and he began to order a couple of books including this very book. Later, he invited us for lunch as we fellowshipped with him. Herein, too, the Lord opened the door for the spread of the ministry of the word.

Overall, the experience of the Lord in Katra was really awesome. In this land of idolatry, God has to raise up a strong testimony. I believe the Lord has His chosen ones, perhaps, the brother who took care of us, and who left human organization following closely the vision the Lord showed him and the burden the Lord gave him. Now, in his congregation he has few hundreds from the lowest background in the society, he raised and educated them. He has a wonderful testimony. I believe the Lord has prepared him for the church in Katra.

Lord, gain Katra for Your testimony!

Ministry of the Word in Dhanoo

Though we were to go to Udhampur, the brother who was suppose to make the arrangement could not be reached at all. At the last minute, I called up a number sent to me by a sister who used to be in Jammu, was saved here and was burdened for the Lord's move. As I called, the brother over the other side of the line simply said, "Please come!" and asked me to write down the address and how to reach there. Then we left Jammu city to a mountain top overseeing Udhampur, a small village called, Dhanoo.

Without any hesitation we easily mingled with the brother and his family and they gave us a homely hospitality for almost a week. Though the house was small, it was big enough to accommodate us all. Though the food were simply, they were very tasty. Though the arrangement was simple, it was so sweet. This house on the hill top became our base camp for the following days for all our visit to different parts of Jammu.

Our time with the brother has given was much understanding about the Lord's work in this region. Though the work of the Lord began well, most of them, in course of time, divided up into different ministries. We were glad to learn the history and felt blessed to bring the ministry of the age. We were indeed confirmed deep within that the Lord's recovery has to spread in these localities of Jammu. The need now is not mere evangelism, but the work of the ministry for the building up of the Body of Christ. What began well by pioneers need to be mended and blended together for the Lord's testimony.  

Last Lord's day, as the brother requested, I shared in their Lord's day meeting. The burden the Lord gave me was to shared what the Lord has done in my life as a testimony and an encouragement to the three families who are saved in the entire village dominated by high caste Hindus. Discerning their spiritual state, I felt the need to help them with the very basic of living a normal Christian life by taking care of their prayer life and the study of the word. 

After we had stayed with them for few days and discharged our responsibilities, the brother testified to us that our presence in their family brought to them the presence of God. He specifically told me what his wife had told him that she felt the presence of God during our stay. That surely was a grace from the Lord. To me it was a very normal visit, and I felt very homely. We did not do anything outwardly but just lived out our normal Christian life. Even after coming back to Gurgaon, he called me again to thank and praise the Lord for the Lord had brought us to his place.

On the recreational side, after our days works were done, we got to swim in the clear river that flowed down from the mountain. It was such a refreshing exercise. Twice we had this opportunity, and one evening we purchased fish caught from the same river by a fisherman and treated our host with fish curry. We were also invited by the not-yet-saved family members of our brother to their homes for tea and for dinner. We prayed for these families to be saved as well. 

Now, looking forward to the salvation of the villagers and the raising up of the Lord's testimony in Dhanoo! Lord, hasten that day!  

Ministry of the Word in Jammu

Jammu, the northernmost state of India and often torn with terrorism; this is the first time we ventured into northernmost belt with the ministry of the word. When the proposal came for the first time, the instant speaking of the Lord was just to follow the brother who made the proposal and arrangement. My response was immediate, and since then we have been praying for the distribution in this state.

Though the arrangement was to be made by someone, till last moment it did not work out in two places. Nevertheless the Lord made a perfect arrangement for our stay in Jammu. The first day we attended a conference with the Christian leaders on the importance of Christian literature. When it was my time came to share the word, the Lord gave me the timely word to minister at length on the origin and importance of the publication work beginning with God Himself as the Word, the publication of the Holy Bible, and also the need for a properly translated and interpreted word. I also ministered on the line of the progression of the divine revelation even though the sixty six books of the Bible are already completed. 

Right after the  sharing, a seeking brother came to fellowship with me about how much he enjoyed the word I had just spoken and invited me to his home. Later, in his house we had three hours of fellowship. He seemed to have left the denomination and began fellowshipping with about seven families. he vaguely remembered the book by Watchman Nee, "The Orthodoxy of the Church." He was very interested in the matter of the church as mentioned in the Bible. Besides, he also ordered some ministry books. The next day, he called me up to say "thank you" and also ordered the Recovery Version of the Bible. May the Lord gain this brother and the believers with him for the testimony in Jammu.

Another spectacular incident was a meeting with a well known Christian leader in town with his son who is a part of a next generation youth group. After introducing the ministry books in a way of life, his concluding response was that he needed all the books. As I was burdened further to introduce the Life-study of the Bible, he immediately order the whole set too. Likewise, all the Christian leaders we met were quite open to us and the ministry. We only pray that the Lord would open their spiritual eyes to see the vision of God's economy and serve the Lord in oneness for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Another notable event was a meeting with a youth group who were burning to bring forth one million "students missionaries." They seemed to have seen a vision from the Lord concerning their burden. But as they requested me to speak, the only burden I had for them was, to help them with the basic. Besides sharing my testimony, I encouraged all of them to spend much time in prayer and the study of the word. To me, without the basic, "visions" are just fantasy dream with some spiritual flavor but mostly religious and often superstitious. Young people need to be solidly grounded and founded on the word of Christ. 

Overall, it was an amazing experience to this city; especially because the ministry of the word has reached the northernmost part of India! Our prayer is, "Lord, raise up Your testimony in Jammu!"

Fifteen Years After

After fifteen years the Lord brought me to a brother who had been very instrumental in the earlier days of my Christian life. Though after five years of being with him in the same fellowship, the Lord led me further to come into His recovery of the church life. Though I love him as a christian brother, and still honor him till today as one of the spiritual brothers from whom I received much help, still because of the vision of the Body of Christ and His recovery, I could no longer be a part of the group that I used to be. I sincerely have no grudges against anyone, but the vision of the church has not allowed me to be a part of any denomination. In spite of all the spirituality in that group, the Lord led me on to higher ground for the building up of the Bdy of Christ. No any spirituality is for the Body of Christ. I had to follow the Lord as He led me and not linger on to something that might replace the Lord. Though I left the group, still I maintain a brotherly fellowship as much as practicality allows. Given it to my choice, I would never have left that group. But I must follow the Lord, on and on.

Last week, the Lord sovereignly arranged a situation in which I and two other brothers had to stay in his house in our distribution trip to Jammu. It was after a decade and a half that we met again. The Lord faithfully have been keeping him and blessing him in his endeavor to serve the Lord as a pioneer in Jammu. What an exemplary life he lives as far as pioneering for the Lord is concerned! His labor and faith in the Lord is amazing. And the Lord has been blessing him too. 

One night till past midnight, we had a wonderful time of fellowship; sharing and testifying mostly of what the Lord has been doing in my life. I felt peaceful about sharing at length to him as I felt he needed to know too what the Lord has done. All these things were my first time sharing to him, and I felt that was the way I could honor him as my spiritual brother. After such sharing, he invited me to give my testimony to the congregation the following Lord's day before he ministered the word. I did so willingly and thanked the Lord for all His leading.

While being together with him, almost during every meal, he and I took turn to testify of what all the Lord has done in our lives. Sometimes of the ministry we here involved in, sometimes sharing from the word of God. The Lord has been working faithfully in both of us. On certain points concerning the church we may have differing understanding, but as far as life is concerned, we are on the same boat.

I sincerely thank the Lord for such a spiritual brother as he. Out of my gratitude to him a and burden for him as fellow Christian brothers, I selected twelve crucial ministry books as a gift with five hymns CDs and gifted to him with each book captioned, "To Br. ...... and family, With Love from Palmei and family" with two Bible verses, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:3,8." I only pray and hope that he also see the vision of the Body of Christ, and be coordinated and blended as one for the Lord's eternal purpose.

This meeting was very impressive as he exhibited a strong testimony on life, and I also presented in words and in gifts (of the ministry books), the issue of life, which is building. Life is for building; building and life must go together.

Only the Lord knows, and time will tell, if our ways will ever meet again, either for a moment or unto eternity. I would rather wish and pray for the latter than the former. That having seen life, we must also be for the building of God.

The Lord's will be done. Lord, bless my brother!

The Lord's Speaking

In three consecutive meetings this week I have received blessing through the timely speaking from the Lord. Time and time again, He speaks and speaks, here a little, there a little, now and then.

Life and Building 

It was in a sister's home with her husband whom we visited, who told us on being asked of his favourite book in the Bible, the gospel of John, that we ministered on "Life and Building" as seen in this gospel. The Word who was in the beginning, with God, and God Himself, incarnated to tabernacle among man, Christ Jesus, in whom was life, and came to dispense life to man that man might be brought to God and become one with God; this life we now receive and are growing in this life with the process of transformation all the way to become living stones for God’s building. That meeting was so rich in truth, and the following meetings would be a regular Life-Study home meetings. Though we did not know what to prepare before we went to their house, in an organic way the Lord initiated the conversation and the home meeting became a truth ministering meeting. This couple being educated and serving as a high ranking officer in the defense service of the government, and also hungering and thirsting for the word of God, the Spirit free spoke the word and without any hesitation we could readily minister even on the deeper truths of the Bible. That minister was not to them alone, but to us as well. Life and building for Christ and the church.  May the Lord fully gain this family. 

Bringing, Blessing, Breaking, and Blending

Matthew 14:16-20But Jesus said to them, They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. And they said to Him, We do not have anything here except five loaves and two fish. And He said, Bring them here to Me. And after commanding the crowds to recline on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve handbaskets full. 

First of all, there must be the bringing of everything we have to God. It's not a matter of quantity, but the quality of the heart that offers everything to the Lord. This is what the Lord desires. Unless we let go of what we have and offer it willing to the Lord, neither should we expect God to bless us. Then and only then, when our all is brought to the Lord, the Lord will bless all that we willing offers to Him. In fact, all that we have are all from God as the real source, bringing back to Him would be the best decision. Once brought to the Lord, He would break them; this is the issue of His blessing and our bringing what we we have to Him. Save for this breaking there can be no blessing. The Lord cannot possibly bless anything of the old and natural man. He has to deal with it in order to be able to bless it. So, the breaking is a must. Following this breaking is a blessing again to others as what has been offered are now miraculously processed and multiplied to meet the need of the multitude. The blessing and multiplication are such that it not merely meets the need but blesses in abundance, to the tune of twelve baskets full extra, implying the Lord's blessing in abundance and completion. This is the key to unlock the blessing of God and be a blessing in return.

Overcoming in Christ

Matthew 14:28-31And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. And He said, Come. And Peter, coming down from the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the strong wind, he became frightened; and as he began to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him and said to him, You of little faith, why did you doubt? 

Looking away unto Jesus, our faith is firm as we trusted fully in Jesus only. As Jesus walked on water, so also Peter; he actually did walk on the water too, as long as he looked away unto Jesus and trusted in Him. This is the condition: walked on the water and came toward Jesus taking Jesus at His work, trusting Him fully, and having faith in Him. But, when the focus was diverted to the environment or circumstances, however genuine they may be, the looking away from Jesus sank him into the water. Nevertheless, the merciful Lord, still saved him from sinking. Herein is a precious life lesson to learn; look away to Jesus only and you shall walk on water, above all the situation around; but looking away from Jesus and you shall sink into the water, below all the situation around. To be able to live an overcoming life or not rest on our object of looking, "away to Jesus or away from Jesus?" 

Living an overcoming life is a matter of faith, trusting in the Lord and looking away unto Jesus. For the only Overcomer is the Lord Himself, and none else. To be an overcomer, the Lord Jesus must be our life and living by trusting in Him, having faith in Him, and looking away unto Jesus. 

These were the timely speakings of the Lord in the home meetings this week. What a grace that the Lord spoke through the Word of God, and I was graced and blessed to relay it to the saints in the home meeting, and in the process, to myself as well.