In His Mercy

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up together with Him and seated us together with Him in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, that He might display in the ages to come the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6

Note on "mercy" from the Recovery Version

The object of love should be in a lovable condition, but the object of mercy is always in a pitiful situation. Hence, God's mercy reaches farther than His love. God loves us because we are the object of His selection. But because of our fall we became pitiful, even dead in our offenses and sins; therefore, we need God's mercy. Because of His great love, God is rich in mercy to save us out of our wretched position into a condition that is suitable for His love.

These days my subjective spiritual experience of God is that He is a God of mercy and I have been enjoying His mercy. I have come to a realisation, and it has been made more firm, that I am at His mercy. For reasons well known or unknown, one thing is sure, God is a merciful God and I am at His mercy. I have come to know of myself too well; my shortages, my weaknesses, my failures, my sins, my worldliness, my naturalness, and the list goes on... I am deeply convinced of my true condition and I can identify myself with Paul in his experience in Romans 7:24 "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death?."

The Lord is sovereign in His shepherding that he exposes who I am, to humble me and let me know that without Him and His mercy I am nobody and I am nowhere. The divine light shining and the divine hand touching me proves to me all the more that I am nobody and I am nothing without Him and His mercy. All these weeks, day by day, the exposing and touching of the Lord is painful yet good for me. I no longer dare to think or speak or behave haughtily, or even with a little bit of pride or boasting. 

Once when I was much younger in the Lord and was burning for the Lord I used to condemn every slightest mistake, propagating the perfection of Christ. And such action, instead of shepherding and building up new believers, they shattered and turned back the new believers. Many years have elapsed since then, and many spiritual lessons learned. Now by His mercy, I can only thank the Lord for His mercy; I am at the helm of His mercy.

When I have been exposed to such an extent, I don't even deserve God's grace, theoretically speaking, I need His mercy instead; His mercy reaches further than grace. I am glad that the Lord taught me this important lesson of life. I believe this lesson will remind me unto eternity that He is a God of mercy, I am such a wretched man, and that I am what I am, not merely by His grace, but mostly because of His mercy. Therefore, I even deem it best to cling to the phrase literally, "in His mercy".

Yes Lord, in Your mercy, I am what I am. Ever preserve me in Your mercy from now and unto eternity.

Witness Lee: My Brother and My Teacher

In my recent trip to the USA to attend a summer training, I purchased a book titled, "A Memorial Biography of Brother Witness Lee." This is the first time I got hold of a book which has more detail account of the life and ministry of brother Witness Lee. The first time I heard about him was when I was a student way back in 2001. A rumour about him was being spread as a warning to the students to be aware of as his ministry was falsely dubbed as "cultic." It didn't bother me much then. But when my thirst and hunger for the truth concerning Christ and the church could not be quenched by any books or ministries that I knew of then, I turned to the Lord in desperate prayer to answer my quests. It was then that the Lord introduced me to a brother who introduced the books by brother Watchman Nee. Then to a group of brothers who were meeting as the local church in Chennai and were also pursuing the books by both brother Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. That's when I came to hear more about brother Witness Lee.

Because of the accusation already going on in the campus and online, I was very sceptical about brother Lee. One day a brother took me to the Gospel Book Room in Chennai. I was very interested in Christian literature that I purchased all the Indian print books available then in the book room. I was grace with some 30% discount for the box of books I purchased as a student, both of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. But I hardly read the books by brother Lee due to the obvious reason of false accusation already blinding me. The Lord was sovereign, and He still is, leading me to find it for myself first-hand if the accusations against brother Witness Lee were indeed true or not. It began in this manner...

One night I could not sleep. I didn't know why, then. As I gazed at my bookshelf, I was attracted by the title of a book, "The All inclusive Christ." I picked it out and randomly flipped open to a page where there was an exposition of the good land on "The Mountains and the Hills," from Chapter Seven, The Goodness of the land--Its Unsearchable Riches. I simply could not believe my eyes that I read such a portion explaining my situation of ups and downs. I was so supplied by the Lord's speaking through that book. Never in my life had I felt such life supply by reading a Christian book. I was then full of joy to read on and on, which I did in the following days until I finished the entire book. That was the first book I read of brother Lee, and since then I began to read many other books, one by one. 

I received so much life supply by the pursuit of the ministry books by brother Nee and Lee till today. I thank the Lord that there are brothers who had the Lord's anointing from whom I can receive the Lord's life supply, in the principle of incarnation. This is one of the channels through which I received the life supply of God. I also received the Lord's supply directly from the Lord Himself and also through some other fellow believers. Now looking back I realised that Satan was trying to stop me from receiving the Lord's life supply through brother Witness Lee's ministry. For this ministry is really focussed on helping the believers grow in life and be built up as the church, the Body of Christ.

Till date, I could not keep count of how many books I have read, studied, and enjoyed of the books by brother Witness Lee. There definitely is a life-supply in the ministry of brother Lee. And I am one of the many beneficiaries of this ministry. I never met him personally, I only read and enjoyed his portion in the Body as a minister of the word and of the age. And I will continue to enjoy what the Lord apportioned to him for the entire Body. Despite some opposers subtly trying to defame him and stop his ministry of the word to be enjoyed by the believers, my testimony is, I receive so much life-supply from brother Lee. Whatever opposer may say, my testimony is true: Since I read the ministry books by brother Witness Lee, my love for the Lord Jesus Christ grows all the more, my enjoyment and experience of Christ grows all the more, and I believe, I am also growing in the Lord a lot more than before.

I do not belittle any other Christian ministers and authors too, but I have not come across a minister that ministers life so richly and helps me in my Christian life for the church life as brother Witness Lee does. If anyone can recommend any minister or author, I would love to try them out too. Therefore, despite the Satanic forces of trying to defame and accuse brother Witness Lee, I testify to all men as before God, that brother Witness Lee is my dear brother in the Lord, though he had gone to be with the Lord, his ministry still speaks, and he is my teacher too. I thank the Lord for such a brother in the Lord who helps me see, know, enjoy, and live Christ for the building up of the church, the Body of Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for Your bondslave, brother Witness Lee!

Shepherding: In Grief

Last Saturday morning I received a message about the demise of a brother's younger sister. On enquiring further, I found out that he was in New Delhi in the hospital where she passed away. Then I fellowshipped with him and decided to pay him a visit. But due to my daughter's schedule at school, I could not visit him immediately. Nevertheless, it turned out to be better off to visit them in the condolence meeting that was conducted in the afternoon.

Since he is one of the leading brothers in the church in Lamka, I also fellowshipped with the brothers in New Delhi if some could also join in attending the condolence meeting at least. Brothers immediately made arrangement for three more brothers to join me. Then we all four attended the meeting held in Delhi.

I took the initiative to inform the saints in the WhatsApp group and posted the following.

Comfort One Another, and Build Up Each One the Other
Brother M's younger sister had gone to be with the Lord. The Lord knows her time, and therefore, for us as believers, it is not a thing of grief, for we have the hope of glory in Christ Jesus. Let us comfort one another and build up each one the other.

1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore comfort one another, and build up each one the other, even as you also do.

From the many testimonies of her children and the other believers, it was testified of how she loved the Lord and the Word of God, of how she brought her five daughters by herself as her husband had also passed away many years ago. Brother M testified of how he shepherded them to call upon the Lord’s name and led them to touch the Lord through morning revival whenever they were together. 

Much grace to all the family members.

Brother M would be hosting a meeting tomorrow for all the relatives, friends, and well-wishers at his home in Lamka. May the Lord be with our brother in his testifying and ministering the word to all, that Christ may be magnified.

Let us pray for the family.

That was how a brother in grief was shepherded. He himself testified of how it was so good for brothers to be with him and visit him during this time of grief. We could not do much, but our physical presence with him was by itself a shepherding. This is a human care in the humanity of Christ; visiting one another and comforting one another in time of pain and grief. May the Lord strengthen our brother and make him a shining testimony to all his relatives.

Shepherding: USA Visit

For over a decade I have been visiting a family in Gurugram. Though they have a strong root in the main denominational churches, husband to one and wife to another. From the very beginning, my burden was to simply shepherd them by paying them a visit for a short while fellowship on the word of God and prayer. This visit has been going on for years and they began to enjoy the Lord too in a deeper and sweeter way. Gradually they also lean towards the church life as seen in the Bible. Though they have not fully come into the church life, they remain good brothers and sisters with whom we have regular weekly fellowship in their home.

Recently their son has got admission into one of the universities in California, USA. As a brother, I deemed it good to help them in all possible ways. So I introduced them to the saints in the churches in California, mostly in Fremont and San Lois Obispo. They did visit the churches and the saints gave them hospitality. My only desire was that they could be shepherded practically in the church life and be fully gained to bear the Lord's testimony wherever they are. I definitely should not be narrow-minded with the thought that "they are not fully into the regular church meeting yet." Perhaps, through this shepherding, the Lord would shepherd them into the practical church life. 

This incident was a good test for me to exercise a shepherding life even to those who may not fully be one with the ministry yet. They are all genuine believers in the Lord. They may not fully agree with the practices of the local churches as yet, but our relationship in Christ despite the minor differences in our understanding, beliefs and practices could not nullify our relationship and fellowship in the Body of Christ. I definitely pray and wish that they be fully gained for the church life, but I leave that to the Lord, who knows best how shepherd people into the church life. I have done what I felt I am supposed to do as a brother who cares for them. Even after this visit, only the Lord knows what stand they will take, but my attitude should be to continue to shepherd them in all possible ways. Shepherding new ones is a life lesson to learn lifelong. Still, I would humble myself before the Lord that I would be able to shepherd as the Lord would want me to shepherd.

One day I hope the shepherded ones would be full grown in Christ unto full maturity and be pillars to bear the Lord's testimony wherever the Lord placed them. With this one goal, as the Lord grace me, I will continue to shepherd whoever the Lord burden me with.

May the Lord shepherd us all into His heart's desire.

My Friend's Family

One of my best friends from high school days, who motivated me to be a studious student, be academically competitive to ambitious in studies as a student, has been posted in Siliguri. I felt it best to pay him a visit once all my burdens were released in regard to meeting Christian leaders for the introduction of the ministry of the word. It was surprising that I could visit them in all the three cities they had been posted so far. When they were in Kolkatta, I visited them with a brother from Chennai, and we gave our testimonies of salvation. When they were in Guwahati too, I visited them again when I fellowshipped with them at length on the truth concerning Christ and the church. This time, the visit also had a very special significance spiritually.

My friend has a religious background with the flavour of Judaism though the faith in Christ is still intact. There perhaps could have been some mixture of the Old Testament and the New Testament in their faith. Which undoubtedly could have had an effect on mingling with a Christian with a fundamental teaching of the New Testament. This was the point of fellowship on the fundamental faith of a Christian with my friend's wife. She has been experiencing a lot of reconciling the fundamental beliefs of the Old and the New Testament. Despite other Christian's opinion about her faith in the Lord as she has been married to my friend, she has stood firm and has been learning to balance between the two beliefs. Perhaps, it was for this fellowship on fundamental teaching of the Bible that I could visit the family. I believe so. As the circumstance I was in proved it to be true. I could fellowship at length on the fundamental teaching of the Bible of a normal Christian life.  

Besides, I also could introduce my wife to my friend's wife with the hope that they will fellowship in the coming days. A Christian needs fellowship, and it is through such that she can grow in the Lord. The Lord knew her seeking heart for the truth, and I believe that was the reason why I could visit them. I also gifted them some ministry books on the church for their pursuit. Before I left the next day, we had a short family time of prayer together. I believe the Lord will fully recover my friend's family into the normal Christian life and the church life.

Lord, bless my friend's family. And bless our fellowship in the coming days.

An Opening in Bhutan

An Opening in Bhutan

A brother from Bhutan who also serves the young people and college students in Bhutan was introduced to us. The Lord impressed him with the ministry books and he volunteered to introduce and distribute the ministry books among the students. Besides, we also met with a Bhutanese brother who has been involving in the translation of the Bible into the local languages of Bhutan. The New Testament Recovery Version impressed him so much as it has been done with much accuracy. He even said he would use the Recovery Version as a reference for his ongoing translation.

Ministry of the Word Journey: North Bengal

Jaigaon, North Bengal

A land bordering India and Bhutan is teeming with missions and missionaries, all with the burden of somehow entering into Bhutan with the gospel. We were welcomed by a well-established Christian group and given hospitality with theologians. With our host we had wonderful fellowship on what a Christian life is, and the issue of such a life being the church life. The theologians were appalled with the depth and revelation of the word the Lord blessed the ministry with, supported by the subjectivity of such high peak truths. We were also led to meet the leading and influential Christian leaders to whom the ministry books were introduced.

A Seeking Missionary: A seeking "missionary" invited us for a lovefeast dinner fellowship and testified of how he has been praying and longing for someone to introduce the pure and healthy teaching from the Bible with printed ministry books. He has seen so much confusion among Christianity with different teachings and leadership that leads the believers into  division. He expressed his gratitude to the Lord that the Lord brought us there in answer to his prayer and wanted to pursue the ministry books and also expressed his desire to visit the church life in Delhi and Gurgaon. 

Alipurduar, North Bengal

We were introduced to the top leaders of the Christian groups operating in North Bengal. A leading founder and leader of some 200 “branch churches” was so interested in the ministry books. He placed order for the books in sets, and would mobilize all who are serving with him for the distribution of free Rhema books and tracts. In fact, he testified that he has been praying and waiting for someone to provide healthy teaching from the Bible, and was so happy that we visited him.

Another mainline church leader expressed his desperateness on the state of today's nominal Christians and wanted a revival. The ministry books impressed him a lot and wanted them in Bengali in bulk as soon as possible, as he is the Chairman of many “churches” all over North Bengal, mostly Bengali speaking believers.