Offering What God Blessed

Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, they will give into your bosom. For with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you in return. Luke 6:38

A believer must learn to continually let go of his money; the unbeliever's way is the way of accumulating; the Christian way of financial management is the way of giving. Matt. 6:33; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6; Phil. 4:17-19.

God has promised us that we will have no lack on earth; the birds of the air have no lack of food, and the flowers of the field have no lack of clothing; even so God's children should have no lack of clothing and food—Matt. 6:31-33. The Bible shows us a fundamental principle—one must give to become rich and one becomes poor by accumulating riches; whoever cares only for himself is destined to be in poverty; whoever learns to give is destined to have riches —v. 33; Luke 6:38.

The ministry speaking these days is on material offerings; not merely offering per se, but a deliverance from the love of mammon. The value I have been holding since my youth which the Lord had taught me and of which I am still learning is this very matter of honoring the Lord with the blessing He bestowed. This month I was exceedingly glad and was even surprised by what the Lord has been doing in me and my wife. 

There is a need in India at the moment, a very great need for buying a blending center for the whole country. The budget was way beyond I expected. When the burden was first announced I was in awe, literally wondering how this could be met in India from the churches and saints. Later, through much fellowship the budget was even doubled with a proposal for double of the original plan. But deep within I felt this is a good opportunity for the saints in India to experience the Lord in the way of offering.

Now, the burden has been released to all the churches in India with each family an approximate participation of about a hundred thousand INR. Few months later, when the burden was trumpeted again I had the burden to participate by offering what the Lord has already blessed us with; an investment we made as a family in Chennai in 2014. 

In fact, there is something very particular about that land we inveseted the Lord's blessing on. The entire land deal was finalised in just one day through one of the brothers whom I have been shepherding since my training days. Whenever we prayed for that land in our family prayer, we prayed that the Lord would bless "Chennai Land." And the Lord did not allow us to have a feeling that that land is indeed ours, but the Lord's. Now when the need for a blending center in Chennai came up, "Chennai Land", the burden is even loud and clear. Chennai Land is for Chennai Land; what the Lord gave us is to be given back to God. That was the burden within me. But I kept the matter to myself, praying over it for months and waiting for the right time to fellowship with my wife.

Surprisingly, when we had a special fellowship in Gurgaon for the churches in North India, we all wrote a consecration slip and dropped it in the offering box. When I fellowshipped with my wife, the amount she and I consecrated to meet this need is on par with what I intended to offer. I mentioned to her about the burden, and we both are in perfect harmony and one accord. Once she and I agreed on this matter, I called up a brother concerning our burden, then I transferred first the copies of land documents of the three plots in Chennai. What a blessing and a joy to be able to participate in the Lord's move by way of giving what the Lord has given to us. Now we pray that this love offering may be acceptable to the Lord and be a blessing to His move in India. What a joy to offer what God had blessed!

2 Corinthians 9:6-7But take note of this: He who sows sparingly shall also sparingly reap; and he who sows with blessings shall also with blessings reap; Each one as he has purposed in his heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

Proverbs 11:24There is one who scatters and increases yet more, And there is one who withholds what is appropriate but ends up only in want.

The Lord's Move in Gurugram

Since the beginning of this year the Lord has been doing a very specific work in the church in Gurugram by first working Himself in each one of us individually - recovering our daily enjoyment of the Lord, and our coordination among ourselves was strengthened. He also began to work in the city by arranging a propagation that has been pending for long.

It was on a Friday night, a week ago, that we received a phone call about the trainees from Hong Kong coming to Gurugram for the propagation. Though this was not planned, a situation in Guwahati was not conducive for the saints from abroad to go there. Therefore, the Lord brought them to our city. 

Though initially we could not decide immediately as we considered so many practical matters. First is the manpower to coordinate with the saints as there would be no trainees from India to join us. Second, the hospitality arrangement is another challenge, as we never gave hospitality for nine saints for two weeks. Third, the target locality for propagation was hard to pick as the people in this city are on the higher side of the normal Indian society. In fact, we had done door knocking a couple of times without much result. Nevertheless, as we fellowshipped, we just realised that this is of the Lord and we, by faith, amen the Lord’s move.

The next day, we all prayed for the propagation in the church prayer meeting. All the saints in one accord prayed and consecrated to be a part of the Lord's move. So the main burden was clear; we all in one accord amened the Lord's move in our city. And hospitality arrangement was done organically in homes and our office guest room. The following Monday, the saints came to the meeting hall and rearranged everything for the two weeks propagation. Personally, I was amazed at the saints coordination and the oneness through which the Lord led us all together. This itself is already the blessing we received even before the actual propagation began.

On the Lord’s day, after lunch, all the saints gathered together for fellowship to decide on where to propagate. Through the fellowship, the Lord made it clear that we have to go to DLF 3. The members of the Body spoke and it was thus confirmed. And the following Monday, we drove around DLF 3 and zeroed in on U block. Thus, through fellowship the Lord made all things clear step by step.

So when the saints from Hong Kong came everything was in place; after fellowship and prayer, we all were grouped into five teams and participated in the Lord's move. Even after all these, our target was not clear. But as we pursued the ministry book, "Being Desperate and Living Uniquely for the Gospel," we were clear that our target should be twenty baptisms and five house hold solidly gained for the church life.

So far, nine have been baptised and three families were open. We still have a week to go. And the Lord will accomplish His work. Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord for His move in Gurugram! May the Lord gain His strong testimony in Gurugram! 

Lifeless Truth?

Right or wrong is the not the scale of judgement as far as the divine life is concerned. It is the ministering of life that matters most. Life or death is the true scale of judgement in every matter of a Christian life. As much as the knowledge of good and evil belongs to the same tree, we must partake only of the tree of life. Though I know this in theory, often I failed in my practical daily living. I also tend to partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. O how much I need the Lord's mercy and His deliverance!

It was yesterday that in our gospel preaching we met a brother, actually an Assistant Pastor of some pentecostal denomination, who also distributed a gospel tract which we gave to his senior pastor months ago. We were glad that at least someone is also preaching the gospel, though paid for it, as it was his profession. Still the gospel is preached. As we met him, the topic turned to the matter of "Pastor" and "Denomination." Such questions are needless to pay heed to as we all know these are man made. But somehow these topics were brought up. Instead of forgoing such needless discussion, I got entangled with it. In fact, I was in my mind, and even in my flesh trying to argue on the unorthodoxy of being positionally designated as a "pastor." The discussion further went on to the division of Christianity into denominations. I completely failed to live out Christ in this regard. Instead, I just lived out my "self" of defending my understanding of the Bible using the Bible.

Though I may know the Bible to defend or argue on these topics, and though I could defeat the unorthodoxical teachings and practices of religious Christianity, I sure did not live out Christ nor did I minister life as I ought to. Even though I could argue very well on the fallacy of today's degraded Christianity, it was a mere argument and presentation of facts. But where is the life supply?

Even though, out of Christian courtesy,  I prayed after presenting the biblical truths concerning the topic in concern, I sure did not minister life nor did I have peace afterward. So the moment I came back home, I was so convicted by the Spirit of my "biblical correctness" without life supply, and much less, the Lord's anointing, I sought for a secret place to confess. The only place I could find was a toilet wherein I locked myself in, knelt down and confessed my sin of self biblical defence. I sincerely asked the Lord to forgive me. And prayed that I would never entangle myself again in such lifeless futile debate on lifeless topics of the Bible.

This experience opened my spiritual eyes to see the vanity of lifeless biblical knowledge and presentation of the truths. All my desire to be an apologetic was crushed that very hour. I sure would not live to defend the truth without the life of the truth. The truth and life of the word of God should go hand in hand. Else, it is a dead doctrinal truth, a mere piece of information labelled as the word of God. 

Lord, save me! 

This experience is very unique in my Christian life. In one go, all my longing and dream of defending the truth apologetically was just crushed. The dream I treasured so dear and even reckoned as a service anointed of the Lord, was just smashed into pieces. Whether the Lord would still lead me to take the apologetic way or not will henceforth be determined by the true litmus test of life or death. Only, and only if it is life, then I will go for it. Otherwise, it is already, a no no. James 3 is a good reminder in this regard. 

This experience I will never forget in my life. Avoid lifeless biblical truths! Only minister Christ as life. 

Gospel on Phone

For if I preach the gospel, I have no boast, for, necessity is laid upon me; for woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:16

All normal Christians can preach the gospel and must preach the gospel. 

I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance. Luke 15:7

In our church life here in Gurgaon, we regularly go out to preach the gospel as the church. Through this faithful going out every Saturday, Mr. N Sharma received the gospel tract on 7th April. He called up the church's phone number. I received the called and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ over the phone with my broken Hindi. He readily received the word of God and was so desperate in life that he asked a simple straightforward question, "What shall I do? Tell me, I will do anything." I simply led him to believe into the Lord Jesus Christ and to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, "He Prabhu Yesu!"

Since then, he called upon the Lord's name again and again. Sometimes, for hours altogether. Sometimes, alone in the night and early in the morning. The more he called, the more he felt the peace and strength he has been searching for, for many many years. He had been to many pilgrimages and idol worship, but never found peace, much less, God. Now with simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and simple calling upon the Lord’s name, he enjoyed so much peace. 

On 14 April he met with us in the restaurant run by him. The gospel was preached to him again, this time, face to face, with prayer and calling upon the Lord's name.

Last Lord's day, 15th April, he came to our meeting hall, where we had a gospel meeting with him one more time, to make sure that the gospel of Jesus Christ was properly presented and understood. Therefore, through the word of God, he was led to repentance, to believe into the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him, to confess and call upon the Lord's name, and the truth concerning baptism was presented as exactly is in the Bible.

And on 16th April morning, he came to the meeting hall again. We brought him to the practical experience of prayer and calling upon the Lord's Name, and further explained who Jesus is using Isaiah 9:6.

For a child is born to us, A Son is given to us; And the government is upon His shoulder; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Having thus been saved and convicted by the Holy Spirit, he, out of his own free will, took the decision to be baptised. As the church, we only helped him according to the truth of the Bible. Praise the Lord, a new brother Sharma was born!

Before we met him, he was so desperate in life that he  even contemplated suicide as he felt totally lost. Since the very first meeting, new hope began to dawn in his life. Then through his believing into and calling upon the Lord's name, the peace of Christ began to fill him gradually. Out of his own decision he took baptism on 16 April 2018. Now, he is so happy, he even called up to  say, "Thank you for all that have happened." We simple replied back, "Praise the Lord! Jai Masih!"

Gospel on Wheels

Bus from Raipur-Chattisgarh to Khariar Road-Odisha, 9 April 2018.

On our way by bus from Raipur to Khariar Road, the Lord brought one young man to sit right in front of us. On seeing him, my innate feeling was, he was a seeker who need the gospel. I told my fellow brothers that we would preach the gospel. Then I began to preach in Hindi. Sentence by sentence, as I preached, he whole heartedly received it. Later, I asked a brother who speaks the local language, Oriya, to lead him to pray the sinners' prayer. As he finished his prayer of salvation, he also testified of what the Lord Jesus Christ meant to him from his childhood. He already witnessed a healing of his relative in Jesus' name and had since then been very open to the Lord Jesus Christ, though no one actually preached the gospel to him personally. It was in the bus on our journey together that he heard in detail, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and was saved! In fact, we were not suppose to take this bus as we planned to take either train or taxi. But, at the last minute we changed our mode of transportation with the view of saving time, and a soul got saved! God knows best.  

Train from Khariar Road-Odisha to Raipur-Chattisgarh, 11 April 2018.

On our train journey from Khariar Road to Raipur, our co-passenger was a wealthy man who was just back from him religious pilgrimage with the hope of healing for his wife who has long been struggling for survival due to ill health. As he narrated, they have spent lakhs and lakhs of rupees for all kinds of treatment recommended by doctors with business in mind. Having thus been fully fed up with so called medication, he turned to meditation of some superstitious belief on deities. Alas, to no result either. Thank God that he discovered at least the vanity of superstitious religion, though in a hard way. But when we started preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, he was so happy; he himself testified that there was so much peace in Jesus Christ. The Lord led us to share on repentance as we preached the gospel in Hindi. 

Mark 6:12-13And they went forth and proclaimed that men should repent, And they cast out many demons and anointed many of the sick with oil and healed them. 

Having heard the word, he was willing to repent for his sins, and he finally received the Lord in prayer. He prayed the sinner's prayer and wanted to attend Christian meeting in Nagpur as he was posted there at the moment. He also testified that though he has so much land and properties with his relatives all in good and high post government jobs, they have no peace at home. Now, he hates all these material wealth and just wants peace, and nothing else. Our gospel of peace in Christ Jesus was just apt for him. Besides, I had just one Hindi New Testament in my bag and gifted to him. In fact, I didn't even realise I had one Bible in Hindi until I searched for one in my bag. He was so happy that we met. We got his number and gave him our brother's number in Nagpur. 

Actually we were not suppose to take that train, but at the last moment, we got it on current reservation due to change of plan, so we cancelled the train ticket according to our original plan. God knows best. 

We pray that both these new believers who have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time in their lives and believed into the Lord Jesus Christ be preserved in their faith. In God's time, in His way, and at His assigned place, we hope to meet them again as Christian brothers.

Looking forward to that day when we can say, "Praise the Lord, brother!".

New Localities

Mahasamud

A Pastor was introduced to us by our brothers from Raipur. We came to this new locality to find out what the Lord has reserved for His testimony. The pastor happens to be an ardent believer of signs and wonders, and having testimony of eight years of barrenness when he only preached the word, but was blessed bountifully when he fasted and sought for gifts of signs and wonders. Now, to his tally, he had six hundred believers in twelve localities in the vicinity of the town. As we listened to him, the Lord gave us a strong burden to minister on the importance of the word of God. 

We brothers coordinated to minister on the all-inclusive Christ as presented in the good land, Canaan, expounding all the items mentioned in these verses, and ministering Christ through all the items. 

Deuteronomy 8:7-10For Jehovah your God is bringing you to a good land, a land of waterbrooks, of springs and of fountains, flowing forth in valleys and in mountains; A land of wheat and barley and vines and fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive trees with oil and of honey; A land in which you will eat bread without scarcity; you will not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and from whose mountains you can mine copper. And you shall eat and be satisfied, and you shall bless Jehovah your God for the good land which He has given you. 

Later, we also gave testimonies of how the word of God presented in spirit is so powerful to change people's life. In fact, I gave my own life testimony to refute his claim that only the word of God is not effective. In fact, there is no effective spiritual weapon than the word of God presented by the right person with the right spirit. Through our fellowship, he was graced to be balanced in his one sided belief of mere signs and wonders. Though, he is an elderly brother, he received the ministry we presented and even invited us to share lunch with him, and also invited us further for the distribution of the ministry of the word in his upcoming meeting by the end of this month. We gifted him the books, The All-inclusive Christ, The Spiritual Man - 3 Volumes, and The Normal Christian Faith, all in Hindi. Our burden is that he would be graced to enter into the ministry and be gained for the Lord's testimony in Mahasamud. 

Bagbahar

In this locality, we met a family who was open to the ministry. As we fellowshipped with them, the Lord's speaking was to help them with the basic of a Christian life. First, to help them know that they were saved indeed. The assurance of salvation with three proofs were presented: Outward proof of the word of God, inward proof of the Spirit witnessing with our spirit, and the love for the brothers. Then, we fellowshipped further on feeding on the Word of God with practical help of pray-reading the word. One sister testified that all her seeking and searching for answer was just answered when she herself pray-read the word. We encouraged all of them to practice it regularly with a weekly group meeting. 

These two localities were located in between Raipur and Khariar Road. The Lord just opened the doors in these localities for the brothers who are already enjoying the ministry to follow up. May the Lord raise up His testimonies in these localities too.

Follow-up Shepherding: Khariar Road

In 2014, through a phone call from a brother, who enjoyed the ministry books distributed by Rhema and who later received the New Testament, Recovery Version, and called for the Holy Bible, Recovery Version, we visited him. Since then, the Lord has been faithfully supplying a group of brothers with the life supply through the ministry of the word. And it was this group of brothers who also left the denomination that we went to visit for a follow up shepherding.

We were welcomed and received by our brothers. Here, the burden was simply to fellowship and encourage them to go on until the time is ripe to fully establish the church. In fact, they have been practising the church life, though few in numbers, and with some brothers whose wives still need to be fully recovered. In our fellowship, we touched various practical points of life and truth. The daily and regular pursuit of the Lord in prayer, the word of God and the ministry, personally and corporately; the fellowship, blending and building up among themselves in oneness; and the functioning of all the members to shepherd the new ones as well as one another. We practically enjoyed the church life with the saints during our visit. 

We also spent time with two new ones: a Christian worker and a new believer's family. With the Christian worker, the Lord led us to share strongly on being poor in spirit and pure in heart.

Matthew 5:3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

For reason best known to God and to our new ones, the ministry of the word was very strong. We renounced all impure motives in the name of serving the Lord, of dreams and visions mixed with self seeking ambition and interest. We also ministered strongly on the need to be stripped off of all religious and spiritual baggages; be poor in spirit, leaving everything behind and stretching forward to the things before in pursuit of Christ and the Church; and the need to be pure in heart, and single heartedly seeking nothing but God Himself alone and His economy. After such a ministry we prayed, hoping that our Christian brother would be helped to be poor in spirit and pure in heart, and be simply a brother to blend with the saints in Khariar Road. 

The other family was a new believer's family, who were not yet baptised. To them we shared the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with an emphasis on the regeneration and growth in life. In time, the whole family will be baptised. We leave that to the local brothers' discernment and decision. 

We also spent time with another brother who has an end time ministry background. To him, our speaking was frank and direct, charging him to drop all kind of teachings and focus only on the most important item of God’s economy: the building up of the Body of Christ until we all arrive at the oneness God so desired. 

Ephesians 4:13Until 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.

After such a strong word was ministered, he happily acknowledged the truth and accepted our nourishing shepherding. Though he is much elder to us in age and in experience, he has the heart to receive our fellowship. May the Lord blend him fully with the saints for His testimony in that locality.

As we all prayed together a strong prayer for the full recovery of the church in Khariar Road, the new ones and new localities we visited, and also for Chhattisgarh and Odisha, we also had some practical fellowship with the brothers for their weekly coming together for prayer, corporate truth pursuing with their wives, and the brothers fellowship, besides the Lord's day meeting. And having thus released our burden, we all headed back for our own localities.

Praise the Lord for the recovery of the church in Khariar Road!