Monday, 26 March 2018

Shepherding Via WhatsApp

The burden for people the Lord blessed me with, is growing by the day. Many seekers and lovers of the Lord, the Lord has been introducing to the church. Now, we have more than double of the regular attendants of the Lord's table meeting who are open for shepherding either at their home or via phone or WhatsApp messages.

Beginning this month, as I was praying and considering how to effectively and faithfully shepherd all these new ones, the Lord's speaking was very emphatic: Raise up more brothers and sisters to do the perfecting work of shepherding, and use all available means of shepherding-phone or internet. And this is exactly what I have been doing.

To raise up and increase the number of useful saints, as the church we are carrying it out by various ways. For the personal shepherding of the ones the Lord specifically burdened me with, I am doing my best to physically visit them as much as practicality allows, but for the rest, I just cannot leave them as orphans just because I cannot visit them. Therfore, I made a deal with some of these ones, for a regualr fellowship either by phone call or by WhatsApp messages.

Now, I have a database of some of these ones: maintaining a record of messages I sent to them for their studies, to pray over, and experience the word of God. As and when they respond, I send them another message. This online shepherding will go one as long as the Lord graces all of us. By this way, by all means, no one should be left as an orphan.

So far so good. I have found this way of shepherding very effective, and time saving. The only time I spent is to bring these ones before God in my prayer and discern which message to send to whom and when. By this way, there is no problem with country or distance; I am shepheding saints in China, North East India, and different parts of India. If need be, I can call them for fellowship and prayer, otherwise, I send them message as the Lord leads.
2 Timothy 4:2 Proclaim the word; be ready in season and out of season; convict, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching. 
In the line of the word, proclaim the word; be ready on line or off line, using every means available that the saints will be given food at the proper time.
Matthew 24:45  Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time?
Lord, grace me to be Your faithful and prudent slave as much as You grace me with all the sheep for shepherding.

Ministry of the Word Distribution Visit

In 2016 we carried out a ministry of the word literature journey to different parts of Uttrakhand. One of the cities we visited was, Nainital. There we met with all the Christian groups available for meeting during our visit. One particular group's pastor keep contacting me over social media. Infact, we sent him many free tracts for his distribution. He introcuded his relative who is serving here in Gurgaon, but for some reason I could neve meet with him.

Last week, I received a phone call from a Christian pastor in Gurugram who works with the said pastor in Nainital. He called us with the reference and recommendation from the this pastor. He introduced himself and requested if he could come over to meet me, for fellowhsip and also for recieving more tracts. He did come and we had a time of fellowship for about two hours. As we introduced some crucial ministry books we also ministered some truths of the Bible. For the time being, introducing the ministry through the books was all that we could do. We left the matter to the Lord for his pursuit of the ministry books and get back to us for more fellowship.

One thing is sure, the ministry of the word is the ministry of the word; it is meant for all believers, and in time, the Lord will recover His chosen ones to bear His testimony. Our responsibility and burden as of now is: To the believers, minister the ministry; to the gentiles, preach the hihg gospel. Whoever we meet, we minister the word accordingly.

In the coming days, we wait on the Lord to bring many more fellow believers into the understanding and enjoyment of the ministry of the age, and we will also follow the Lord's leading to go and meet whoever the Lord arranges for us to meet. We are not for ourselves, we are for the Lord's. In a true sense, we are for all men as the ministry of the word is for all. 

Lord, bless the distribution of Your word that all Your children will be fed with healthy spiritual food. Here we are, in the city of Gurugram, as a spiritual warehouse, to supply  spiritual food to all Your children. Make us prudent and faithful stewards. 

Ministry of the Word Distribution in Gurgaon

On the 5th of this month, I received a call from a brother informing me of the Gurgaon Christian Leaders' fellowship in Jharsa, Gurgaon. Though it was so sudden, and I was wondering if I could really make it for the meeting, yet as I considered before the Lord, I felt it was the Lord's opening the door among the beleivers in this city. Therefore, I sent out a prayer request and also prayed for this meeting.

On the 6th of March, with two other serving ones, we all went to the venue for the meeting and arrived the venue thrity mninutes earlier. It was our first meeting as scuh in this city though we have been placed here for over a decade. The attendants were mostly Christian leaders and pastors who have their congregation within and around Gurgaon city. The meeting was pentecostal in style and nature. We simply joined the brothers and sisters in their worship of God. Though in outward practices there may be drastic differences, but inwardly, we all are children of God. It was an opportunity for me to open up to fellow Christians simply because we all are believers in Jesus Christ.

Though it was my first time to attend such a meeting, the host was kind enough to give me time to present and introduce the ministry books. I introduced the ministry books to the crowd of some forty Christian leaders. The response was very obvious.

Two Christian pastors were very interested in the ministry books. They purchased some books for their pursuit and wanted to have more fellowship with us. They even invited me to visit them the following Lord's day. In fact, these two pastors were not new to me. 

Few years ago while distributing tract in Cyber City, a biker saw me and stopped by to meet me. He introduced himself as a Christian pastor and was very glad that I was distributing gosple tracts. We exchanged phone numbers and considered to meet, but that never happened. Many years after, we met in this leaders' meet. 

As for the other pastor, as fas as my memory goes, I met him while preaching the gospel in a park. Since then we have been in touch on WhatsApp but never met. Though I did talk to him over the phone once, but we never could meet. Finally, we met in the leaders' meet.

To me, these two brothers were very unique from the rest. First I already met them before. Second, we have been in touch on social media. And third, they were very open to the ministry books. Our meeting was sovereiognly timed by the Lord. Though there were many other leaders, deep within me, these two brothers have the simplicity and purity, as my spirit witnessed to it. I was glad that the Lord took me there. In His time, we will meet with these two brothers again and perhaps, the Lord would shine on them to see His heart's desire.

Though some rumor and false accusation were spread by some leaders against the ministry, though none of them dared to face me face to face, atlesat to check if their misinformed news could be validated. But one brother did ask me if the doctrine of the ministry books were sound. My emphatic reply was, "Very Sound! You have to read to find out for yourself." To this brother, I gifted God's Eternal Plan as a foretaste of the ministry and requested him to read and get back for more fellowship. Later, I also messaged him of the need to search and find out the truth as the Berean believers in Acts 17:11  Now these people were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

We are in the city of Gurugram becasue the Lord has placed us here. In His time and in His way, we will be one with Him for His testimony in this city. 

Lord, bless Gurugam with Your healthy words.

Church Blending

Last Friday, the 22nd of March, the Lord blessed the church through the visitation of a brother from the United States. Though he came mainly for the full time training classes , he could spent a night with the church in Gurugram for fellowship. His coming enabled us to arrange for a meeting for the church.

Though I was a little reluctanct about having a big meeting when a brother proposed for one, as I considered convinience rather than opportunity. My initial thought was to take this brother to one of the home meetings. But if that be the case, only those who attend that home meeting would benefit it. I thank the Lord for my brother who had the insight for the church's benefit. So, in coordination, we made some arrangment.

The meeting was well attended by mostly young people and some new families. The Lord's speaking through our brother was also very simple yet very apt. The burden was on eating the Lord as the living bread as the Lord presented Himself as such in Mathew 15:21-28. It is by eating the Lord Jesus as the Bread that we can live a normal Christian life. The best way to live a normal Christian life is by eating the Lord Jesus as the living Bread, not by religiously trying to live a Christian life. The saints were strenghtened, and much more we got the opporotunity to be blended together. This simple yet touching message was the Lord's speaking to the church. Then we all enjoyed our lovefeast together.

The meeting also coincides with seven college students visiting the city of Gurgaon, the friends of a brother in the church. It was also an opportunity for these new students to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, perhaps, for the first time in their lives. The way to eat the Lord by calling upon His Name was just the right gospel message. Everyone calling the Name of the Lord is the best way to receive the Lord! All these new ones had the opportunity to call on the Lord's Name, the best gospel message ever, leading people to call on the Lord's Name!

Prasie the Lord for this wonderful time of church blending! More fellowship, more reality of the Body life.

Wednesday, 28 February 2018

Family Fellowship

Having been burdened by the Lord, I have started a regular family fellowship in different forms. One way is of coming together every morning for morning revival and every night for family night prayer. Besides, occasional face to face fellowship, as and when the need arises. Now, another way is by making use of all the latest technology for fellowship. The best tool now is WhatsApp. In fact, I created a family group called "Our Family." And gradually this group is being filled with family members, mostly Christians. The Lord also burdened me to supply life through the word of God now and then in a way of posts; posting words of love and encouragement to pursue the Lord. Sometimes, the ministry of the word, sometimes Bible verses, and sometimes words of exhortation. 

Though we have been saved from eternal perdition by faith in Christ Jesus, we must also be saved from the present evil age; from the world, religion, and other contaminating things. It is with this burden that such a family fellowship group is being created and taken care. I also apply the verse for household salvation to our family fellowship.
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household. Acts 16:31 
I reckon this verse as believe on the Lord Jesus, you and your household shall be saved from religion and denominations into the church life. The same faith that I have for the salvation of my unbelieving family members is the same faith for the salvation of the saved believers too; to be built up as the Bride of Christ. May the Lord bless our family.

As the banner for the group is But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah. Joshua 24:15 so is my burden for the whole family that we all may serve Jehovah in whatever way we can and wherever the Lord placed us.

Lord bless our family!

Ten Years of Bliss

The 27th of February was the tenth birthday of our eldest daughter Bliss. It was hard to imagine how time flew. Ten years have elapsed since she was born! The Lord rightly gave us a name for her, Bliss. It has indeed been a decade of bliss under the grace and blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ. Frankly, I have known no burden as far as family is concerned because the Lord blessed our family to the extent that all things are taking place in its own time. I simply have trusted and still have to trust in what He has in store for us. All these years have indeed been years of blessing and blissful joy. Praise the Lord!

As a father, I wanted to dine with my family on that day, so we went out for her favorite pizza. Though it was my night of fasting and prayer, the day was a day of prayer and feasting. I would not be bound by any law. I would fast when it is needed and feast when it is needed. This way, life is really enjoyable. A life in Christ, a life led by the Spirit, a normal Christian life, is a life of bliss with joy and peace.

Besides the Lord's blessing of our family life in bliss, I and my wife have also have been enjoying a married life in ease and peace. When Bliss was born we have been married for two years already. Our marriage life is on the twelveth year. What was out of God, and is through God, will always be unto God. Time and again the Lord has proved His faithfulness in leading us in our family life. All outward situations any human being on earth needs to go through, we still go through. In the midst of it, we have been experiencing the Lord's bountiful supply of grace and blessing within and without. 

Praise the Lord for Bliss and all these years of bliss!

Church Trainings

As the church, the Lord has graced us with a time of training; a video training on the Crystallization-study of Leviticus. I am personally blessed with the training and much more, witnessing the saints entering into the Lord's speaking as we all attended the video-training gave me immense joy. I was especially joyful in seeing the new ones studying the word of God diligently. This time, the book of Leviticus is on "training." I need training, we need training, and everyone needs training. 

I appreciate this speaking of the brother Ron Kangas so much. I quoted verbatim:
The title of this message is “God Training His People to Worship and Partake of Him and to Live a Holy, Clean, and Rejoicing Life.” The title of this message is also the subject of the first banner, which reads, “Through His speaking in the Tent of Meeting, God trained His people to worship and partake of Him and to live a holy, clean, and rejoicing life.”
The first matter here is God’s training of His people. In Exodus 25:8 Jehovah said to Moses, “Let them make a sanctuary for Me that I may dwell in their midst.” God commanded that a sanctuary, the tabernacle, the Tent ofMeeting, be built on the earth according to the pattern that He would prescribe. God did this because His intention was to enter into that sanctuary and dwell in the midst of His people. God cannot deny what He is. He is holy, He is righteous, He is pure, He is light, and He is love. Now He is coming to dwell in the midst of His people, and that requires a great deal of training by God directly so that His people would know how to be with Him. 
Indeed, the Lord trains us by and through His speaking. Some twenty of us registered for the training in combination with the churches in NCR. We were about 110 in attendance. The ambiance and the aura were amazing. The Lord's speaking was so rich, I can just praise Him for all His grace and faithfulness in training us by His speaking. New lights, new revelations, not merely as teachings, but as life supply has been graced to us daily. What a blessing!

Even as we are praying and asking the Lord for His increase in us and through us, the best way He can achieve this is by His training us through His speaking again and again.We are so blessed that we are on the right track. Besides this particular speaking of the Lord in such training as this, the Lord also trains us in the basic practices of the God-ordained way. As the church, we have been pursuing the Lord in morning revival, Bible reading, prayer meetings, home meetings, group meetings, and the churches' weekly meetings. To me, these are all the processes God use to train us. By such training, the Lord may gain His heart's desire.