NBC Chennai 2017

To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, Philippians 3:10

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Note on "know" from the Recovery Version: Paul lived in a condition of having not his own righteousness but the righteousness that is out of God, in order to know (to experience) Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. In v. 8 to have the excellency of the knowledge of Christ is by revelation. But to know Him here is by experience — to have the experiential knowledge of Him, to experience Him in the full knowledge of Him. Paul first received the revelation of Christ, then sought the experience of Christ — to know and enjoy Christ in an experiential way.

It was on my journey in the train from Delhi to Chennai last week when this verse touched me so much. I pray-read over and over again this verse, and prayed that the Lord would grace me to know Him in a very subjective way. My deep burden was to know the Lord as I ought to, and as God would desire me to know Him. And my prayer and burden in attending the National Blending Conference in Chennai with my whole family was the same too, to know Christ and experience Him thus.

Amazingly the subject of the blending was "Know Life and the Church." It was a perfect plan for me to pray to know Christ, and the Lord answered it in the conference with many brothers, who in one accord, ministered the word on this subject. The Lord's speaking was very timely and spirit-filled as the whole Body had been praying for this blending. The churches in India have been blessed and graced by the Lord to come to a stature that manifests the growth in life and building up among the saints and the churches. This is amazing! 

The coordination in the Body was so marvelous, with all service team carrying out their responsibilities faithfully; from transportation to accommodation to meeting to ministry of the word to different kinds of meetings to food, all were wonderfully coordinated. Herein is a testimony of the Lord's blessing in India. I have been through all the national level blendings in India so far, this blending has manifested much maturity. Praise the Lord!

Personally, the Lord also answered my prayer and deep desire, to know Him by knowing life and the church, not doctrine alone but also in experience and in reality. Praise the Lord!

When India had her first national blending, that too in Chennai, I was a trainee then in 2004. For many new ones it was a crucial turning point in their Christian lives; coming into the church-life. Thirteen years after, many of us, those "new ones" then are now functioning in many crucial services in the Lord's move in His recovery today. Looking back, it was purely and truly the Lord's mercy who have been leading us and shepherding us thus far. Majority of the "new ones" I knew then are now maturing and functioning today. Praise the Lord for his mercy!

Lord, continue to bless Your testimony and Your move in India! Bring all of us to know Christ as life and the church as our living! India for Christ and the Church!

Chennai Family Visit

After the National Blending in Chennai last week, as a family, we visited an Uncle and an Aunty who were my guardians when I was a student At MCC in 2000-2003. This was my first visit as a family. Though they are aged, they are still young in spirit and welcomed us with the same love and care as when I was a student then. Our fellowship began with their daughter and son-in-law, who used to serve the Lord in Shillong, when I was studying for my graduation. Since then we have a very wonderful relationship in the Lord. Whenever I pass through or visited Chennai I would do my best to visit them. They reckon me as their own son in the Lord and I deem it so spiritually too. Though their daughter had gone to be with the Lord, the bridge that she established between us is still going strong. With the same love and care they have for me, I too want to reciprocate in the best way I can. Perhaps, by introducing the ministry to them, and the saints as well. What I have done so far is, introducing the ministry literature. If it be of the Lord, I pray that they also be brought into the church life and be blended and builded in the Body.

Besides this visit, as a family, we had a day visit to a theme park mostly for the sake of my children. This was the park I visited twenty years ago when I came to Chennai for the first time for students' retreat. That time I was one of the enjoyers of the theme park, but this time with three children, I was the ward of the enjoyers, my children. Now, my desire and interest are related to my family, especially my children. 

As a family, we also visited the family of my teacher when in college who was instrumental in introducing me to the church life. Ever since I began my fellowship with him, my teacher then and my brother now, our relationship in the Lord has been steadfast. Though we may not share the same vision exactly, still as a brother, I always did my best to visit whenever opportunity arises. This time my visit was purely a brotherly-family visit. We enjoyed dinner together with my children getting to eat their favorite south Indian specialty: Dosa, Puri, and half-fried egg,"bull's eye."

My travel this time was more of family oriented. Though I travel often for the ministry of the word distribution purpose, this time I was reminded to pay more attention to my family. My wife has been reminding me to bond with my children more, as much as possible, as I hardly get time to really bond and blend with them. This was one of the opportunity to bond as a family in our visit to Chennai.

Praise the Lord for all these families whom the Lord has prepared to shepherd me then, and now I can fellowship with them as Christian brothers in the family of God. As a family, our prayer for them follows too. 

May the Lord grace them good health and long life to continue to serve the Lord by serving the saints, especially students.

Learn Christ

This is the phrase that I learned some twenty years ago. My understanding of this phrase has grown so much through all these years; not merely in doctrine, but much more in life and experience. This two words together means a lot. It eccompases the entire Bible in truth, and perhaps, our entire human life-span, in life. There are so much truth and revelation in this power-pack phrase, "Learn Christ!" The ministry has helped me understand this phrase in a very specific and practical way.

But you did not so learn Christ, Ephesians 4:20

This is the living needed in the daily life of a Christian: Learn Christ. 

Note from the Recovery Version on "learn Christ":Christ is not only life to us but also an example (John 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:21). In His life on earth He set up a pattern, as revealed in the Gospels. Then He was crucified and resurrected to become the life-giving Spirit that He might enter into us to be our life. We learn from Him (Matt. 11:29) according to His example, not by our natural life but by Him as our life in resurrection. To learn Christ is simply to be molded into the pattern of Christ, that is, to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

The Bible also narrated the detail of learning Christ in our daily living in many aspects. This time in my personal study of this portion of the word, I was enlightened to see the humanity that is needed for living Christ. It entails many practical things that are very human, not the natural humanity but the humanity of Jesus. 

In Ephesians 4 and 5, there are practical ways of learning Christ; walking worthily of the calling with which we are called, lowliness and meekness, long-suffering, bearing one another in love, being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace, the reality is in Jesus(the reality of learning to live Christ is in Jesus Himself), renewed in the spirit of your mind(a very practical way of learning Christ), put on the new man(to live by the life of Christ), speak truth each one with his neighbor, working with his own hands in that which is respectable, no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth but only that which is good for building up that it may give grace to those who hear, kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ also forgave you, walk in love, walk as children of light, redeeming the time, understand the will of the Lord, be filled in spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord, giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father, being subject to one another in the fear of Christ....Many of these virtues can be lived out only in the life of Christ, by being Jesusly human. This is indeed to learn Christ. And I am learning them one by one.

Even as the Lord spoke this portion of the Bible subjectively to me today, coincidentally, the morning revival portion that I am enjoying today is on the same line of thought too. Learning Christ to live Christ by putting the body to death of Jesus that the life of Jesus may be lived out in the our mortal flesh.

Always bearing about in the body the putting to death of Jesus that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who are alive are always being delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Cor. 4:10-11 

For the testimony of Jesus we need the highest human life, a life lived out according to the divine life given to us by God. By the divine life we need to have a human life that reaches the highest standard. In our living we should be “Jesusly human.” We should aspire to have a glorious testimony of the Christ in whom we believe and whom we serve and honor. Then we shall be a shining, golden lampstand. This is our declaration concerning human living. (Life-study of Titus, p. 29)

These are on the truth side of learning Christ from the Bible and also from the ministry portion. Now the experience of learning Christ is being carried out day by day; these days, it has been more intensified. Not by outward imitation of Christ, but by exercising our spirit and turning to our spirit. To learn Christ, we must love Christ; as we love Christ, we will learn Christ and the issue will be to live Christ. So love Christ, learn Christ, and live Christ. In fact, this was the statement I wrote on the book of a classmate sitting next to me in a classroom on the first day of my MCA class at MCC, Chennai, in 2000. The result of this statement I wrote was that he became my friend, brother, prayer partner and a brother in the church-life today. Learn Christ!

Blossom and Blossom

The wilderness and the desert will be glad; And the desert will exult and blossom like the rose. It will blossom and blossom, And even exult with exultation and a ringing shout. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of Jehovah, the splendor of our God. Isaiah 35:1, 2. 

As I was enjoying the reading of the word of God, the verses in Isaiah 35 became very living to me. Personally, it was and still is, the Lord's speaking for the day and the days to come. These days, things seems to be dry; the spiritual atmosphere as I perceive in the locality where I am is like a dry desert. The last few days, in all my prayers, be it personal or corporate, my burden has always been to pray for the saints and the church in Gurgaon; many times, naming the saints one by one. The is the best thing I could do for the church at the moment. At times I am discouraged at the spiritual condition of the the saints including myself, and yet other times I am very encouraged that the Lord has given many good fruits, good materials for His testimony. The need for improvement is the regular corporate meeting, blending and building up of these saints. Perhaps, this is the spiritual background from which the Lord spoke this today.

"The wilderness and the desert will be glad; And the desert will exult and blossom like the rose. It will blossom and blossom."

I take God at His word. My words may be unfaithful, but His is always faithful. My wilderness and desert will be glad; gladness or joy is the fruit of the Spirit. Come what may, the enemy may try as much as he could, the ultimate result of the Lord's shepherding will be "gladness" despite all the attempts of the enemy. The spiritually barren land that I am in, will exult and blossom! There is a time for everything; time to sow and time to reap. As I and the saints are in the garden of God in the church here, and as we have been watered by the ministry of the word, the Lord will definitely cause the plants to grow and blossom. This is the promise the Lord has promised me. All our prayer and labor will one day bear forth fruits; even abundant fruits. It will first blossom and blossom followed by fruits and more fruits. 

As a brother my simple responsibility is to "Strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the shaking knees." v3. I may have been seeing weaknesses all around; nonetheless, I must not condemn the weak vessels, but strengthen them. 

35:4 Say to those who are of anxious heart, Be strong; fear not; And there are many shaking knees too. 

To the weak ones, a word of encouragement as well. Shepherding and prayer is all that I can do at the moment. Likewise, I visited and called many of these new ones for shepherding and prayer. AFter a few weeks of travelling when I contacted the new ones under my care, they all are going on in life and in the Lord. The Lord has been preserving and shepherding them too. O how my heart yearns for their growth in life and their enjoyment of the Lord, and that they can bear the Lord's testimony! The promised result would then be:

35:5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped;35:6 Then the lame will leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb will give a ringing shout; for water will break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.35:7 And the desert mirage will become a pool, and the thirsty ground, springs of water; in the habitation of jackals, their resting place, there will be grass with reeds and rushes.

These are the words of the Lord; so encouraging! As the church corporately, and personally too, the Lord has promised, so we will blossom and blossom! Lord, hasten that day!

Bruised Reed

A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench until He brings forth justice unto victory. Matthew 12:20

Not Breaking a Bruised Reed and Not Quenching a Smoking Flax

Verse 20, a further quotation from Isaiah, says, “A bruised reed He shall not break, and smoking flax He shall not quench, until He brings forth judgment unto victory.” As the One anointed with the Spirit, Christ not only will make no noise in the streets, but He will not break a bruised reed or quench smoking flax. This indicates that while He was being rejected and opposed, He was still full of mercy. The Jews who were opposing Him were like bruised reeds and smoking flax. The Jews used to make flutes or reeds. When a reed was bruised, they broke it. They also made torches with flax to burn oil. When the oil ran out, the flax smoked, and they quenched it. Some of the Lord’s people are like the bruised reed that cannot give a musical sound; others are like the smoking flax that cannot give a shining light. Yet the Lord will not break the bruised ones or quench the smoking ones. Although the Lord was rejected, He was still merciful. Even those who had become bruised reeds He would not break, and those who had become smoking flax He would not quench. Rather, He would still keep open the door of mercy and grace to them all. Among His followers and believers today, many have become bruised reeds that can no longer give a musical song. As a rule, these bruised reeds should be broken and thrown away. But Christ will not do this. Moreover, many of His believers no longer burn as a bright light. As a rule, He should quench them all and cast them away. But He will not do this either. Instead, He is merciful. No matter how much opposition, persecution, and attack, this heavenly King is always merciful. He is a merciful, kingly Savior. You may reject Him today, but He will still be merciful to you. Tomorrow if you say, “Lord Jesus, I repent,” He will deal with you lovingly. What a merciful Savior He is! He will never break a bruised reed or quench smoking flax. Rather, He would wait for you to receive His mercy and grace. (Life-study of Matthew, Ch. 32)

In this pursuit of the ministry, I was so encouraged and enlightened concerning the weaker saints. Especially when it comes to official duty, one tend to overlook the matter that even in official service, the "employees" concerned are still the saints. We are not like any other secular company. Though secular company in registration, the purpose and function is to serve saints, seekers, and sinners. Besides all the serving ones are saints in the church life. Though the function and spiritual maturity of different saints varies, still they are saints and must be treated as such. Often times, I tend to consider taking action on certain unproductive serving ones, I am being reminded again and again that I cannot do so as any secular company would do it. Human resource management cannot really be done without the Lord's leading.

Of late, we have had serving ones who could not function for health reason. At least two of them took months of bed-rest. In this scenario, the humanity of Jesus was exercised to still support them in full as though they had labored as full-timers. Besides, we also have case of a serving one struggling in a habit that hinders his regular service. Many times, I considered "firing" such a one, but every time I was about to execute, something within me and outward circumstances proved me wrong. Often I was in dilemma, swinging like a pendulum, between two opinions. Most of the time I got defeated of my own "management thought." Thank God for the Lord who is operating in me and in my environment.

As we pursued this portion of the Life-study of Matthew, the Lord reminded me again and again of His mercy and grace. Even a bruised reed He would not break, nor a smoking flax he will not quench. Then why should I? Instead, I must encourage the bruised reed and smoking flax to come to the Lord to receive more supply and be useful vessels unto the Lord. This message completely changed my thought and I now leave all the matters of management to the Lord. May the will of the Lord be done in each and every serving one's life. My only responsibility is make sure the Lord is the Head and the Master,  as such He has the final say in everything in the service, of whom I am just a slave in His service.

The door of mercy and grace is open to all the serving ones; even a bruised reed He will not break, nor quench a smoking flax. This is how I must serve and function in dealing with the serving ones. Thank the Lord for such a precious lesson of life.    

Words of Wisdom

So I said, Wisdom is better than strength; but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of the wise man spoken quietly are heeded more than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Ecclesiastes 9:16-18

Following the current affairs of the world these days have made me realise the stupidity of the world leaders and their lack of wisdom in handling importance issues of life. They must have spoken whatever they have spoken after much consultation with their counsellors as it pertains to sensitive matters of war and peace, life and death. But the much sounding bangles amounts foolishly to childish cry, and at best, worldly wise. 

The recent war of words between the super power of the world, the US president, and the young autocratic lad of North Korea makes me wonder "what's wrought into the world leaders in their worldly-wise war of words?" 

One morning as I read the word of God, I was enlightened in my spiritual understanding of what wisdom really is; wisdom is better than strength. Armed with nuclear weapons one may boast of one's strength but this very boast can be suicidal. The weapon that one trusts may be the very weapon that thrusts one to destruction. I could possibly see such a destruction nearer than expected. This is no big news at all, as the world is heading for its self destructive suicidal mission as ever has been. The only solution is the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to all men, especially to both the war-mongering nations, and find solution in prayerfully looking into the word of God and trusting in the wisdom of God who is sovereign over all.

"The words of the wise man spoken quietly are heeded more than the shouting of a ruler among fools." This is the perfect and timely message for both the "dogs barking" leaders of nuclear equipped nations. No wars has ever brought peace, but only destruction and death. Wise words and wise ways ushers in peace. Wisdom is better than weapons of war. This is not just a word of wisdom, but the word of God. 

I hope and pray that our world leaders learn wisdom from God and be wise in ruling the nation. This is no mere voicing of my opinion but a burden the Lord implanted in me to pray for such world leaders too. As much as I do, I wish all believers do the same, as we are taught to do in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men;  On behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God,  Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.  

If ever this message reach the leaders in question, may it be the message that's loud and clear: Wisdom is better than strength; The words of the wise man spoken quietly are heeded more than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. 

Ministry of the Word to Jammu Again

This was our second visit to this North Indian city. We came to this city mainly for a Christian literature exhibition in a crusade for three days and also as a revisit to the seekers and lovers of the Lord whom the Lord manifested in our previous visit. 

We were given hospitality by the family of the brother who helped me in my spiritual life when I began to experience the Lord some twenty years ago. Though we could not fellowship with him on the word of God much, we were given a very brotherly and homely hospitality. 

The general experience with the Christians of this city is somewhat superficial and shallow. The outward pomp and show of being God's "prophet" and claiming some kind of spiritual authority made me feel nervous. For I knew truly well what a genuine prophet of God actually is. Many have taken the gifts of God so lightly and designated themselves as so-and-so or such-and-such. I fear for them. So much the more I realised the urgency and need for the distribution of the ministry of the word to educate the Christians spiritually. Through the distribution of the ministry books, I have the strong faith that one day all these dear fellow Christians who received the ministry books will grow in life and be not tossed about by every wind of teachings. For this very burden, I feel it worthwhile to spend time and energy, even money, for the sake of the dear children of God. 

The most significant time spent was with the family who received the ministry of the word. The last day of our stay in the city was with this family. We fellowshipped at length on Christian life and the church life. The fellowship went on till past midnight and I could sense the Lord is gaining this family for His testimony in the city. We did fellowship on the line of taking the stand for the Lord's testimony. We also invited the brother for national serving ones training coming up in November this year which he readily agreed to attend. 

During our morning time, we also introduced the Holy Word for Morning Revival to the brother which he readily agreed to subscribe for the believers with him. To me, this is one of the signs of his accepting the ministry of the age. Besides, he also invited us to minister the word to his congregation. As I was praying and considering what to minister, the Lord led me to minister the basic of a Christian life: God’s purpose in creating man, the need for growth in life, and the practical way to grow in life by breathing, drinking, and eating the Lord. To encourage the believers, I also testified of what the Lord has done in my life as a testimony. Later, I gifted the youth who could read English, the ministry books. One young sister who was so seeking and thirsty for the word, and who also did the recording of the speaking, stayed back for some fellowship after all the congregation left. To her I gifted the New Testament, Recovery Version, as I could foresee that she would treasure it and benefit from it. 

After the meeting, we had another round of fellowship with few more matured believers on loving the Lord as the first and best love, and fellowshipped on the matter of "prophet and prophesying" as mentioned in Ezekiel 37. After we discharged our burden, and enjoyed the lovefeast, the brothers saw us off to the railway station, and thus ended our ministry journey this time. 

Through all these trip what I treasured the most is the Lord's presence with His timely leading and His present speaking to all whom He led us to meet. May His heart's desire be accomplished, and especially for Jammu and Kashmir. Amen.