Unique Training

Last weekend we just enjoyed the Lord's training under the banner Serving Ones Training at Chennai. The Lord's up-to-date speaking was on the propagation of the resurrected, ascended and all-inclusive Christ as the development of the kingdom. This training was unique to me because of certain reasons. The most significant one is, there were two brothers, whom by the Lord's mercy, I can testify as my fellow brothers with whom I spend considerable time of fellowship and shepherding. One of them being my classmate from my college days and the other one whom the Lord shepherded into the church life in my locality, Gurugram, recently. It was a joy to be able to attend the training together with by brothers. Throughout the training we could fellowship and blend together as fellow serving ones. It was a blessing indeed to have brothers alongside as partners with whom I can fellowship freely and blend with. It was even more joyful when they are the ones whom the Lord has been gracing me to shepherd. As a serving one, it was a blessing to be able to shepherd new ones to the extend of bringing them to their full function in the Body and blend them with other members of the Body. This surely is the Lord's mercy and at the same time the Lord's blessing. This perhaps was the most significant time when I could attend such a training with such brothers. 

Another significant reason is, all the nine messages, though high on truth and revelation, brothers could grasped it, though may not be cent per cent. They both testified of the light and revelation they have seen through the Lord's speaking. The training was truly worth attending. I was especially glad that brothers could come further and deeper into the depth of the word of God. Message on being witnesses of the resurrected, ascended and all-inclusive Christ was so apt and subjective that one of the brothers could experience it right away as he went to meet his cousin with this burden and goal of testifying Christ. The message on keeping ourselves in the one flow of the Lord's work for the shepherding of the church, and receiving the Lord's mercy to be saved from Satan’s schemes was so apt that the brothers' understanding on the one flow of the Lord’s work was strengthened. The Lord has been recovering us from different Christian backgrounds and teachings. This message clarified and strengthened the vision of the Lord’s move and the burden on the earth today. And the message on the divine commission according to the heavenly vision for the continuation of the book of Acts in the unique flow of the divine stream was an all-inclusive dose to gain and preserve all of us fully to carry out the divine commission under the heavenly vision. My brothers have both told and testified to me personally that now their vision is clear, in fact, much clearer than before and that they would be faithful to the heavenly vision of the Bible and the ministry to carry out the heavenly vision. May we all be preserved unto the end by His grace. 

Another reason for the uniqueness of this training is, it confirms that we are in Acts 29. Actually, the book of Acts has only 28 chapters. But this book seems to have no ending. The last verse in this book reads:

Acts 28:31Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unhindered.

The proclaiming of the kingdom of God and the teaching of the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ continues... It started with the Lord’s resurrection, ascension and descension on the day of Pentecost, and continues with the disciples in the book of Acts, and still continues with us today, and will continue until the Lord comes back. Therefore, in the proclaiming of the kingdom of God and the teaching of the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, we are continuing the book of Acts, the book that ended at chapter 28,  verse 31 is now being carried forward with us in our time as Acts 29. What a blessing to be a part of the Lord's move on earth today! 

As the apostle Paul, I look to the Lord for grace to be able to declare with all faithful and boldness to men as to God, of my portion in His Body during the time He bestows and blesses me by His mercy on earth: 

Acts 26:18-19

To open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me. Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 

No Parking

It was the 1st of Nov, a declared state holiday as Haryana Day when my children got a day off. I was busy with some household and office work as I had to leave the next day early morning. My wife took all the children for an outing-cum-medical check-up for over an hour ride by Metro to North Delhi at a Tibetan hospital.

I drove my family and dropped them at the metro station. On my way back, I decided to purchase meat for the family during my absence. As usual I parked my car on the roadside adjacent to the meat shop. I have been doing it for decade now as there never has been a designated parking place nearby. I had done all the purchasing and came back. To my surprise, my car disappeared! I recollected if I had forgotten where I parked. My memory did not fail me. I was quite sure where I parked my car. Without any panic nor anxiety, I guessed it must have been towed away. Then I approached a police stationed nearby to inquire if he knew about my car. He told me that he didn't see any car parked nearby, but he suggested that it must have been towed. He gave me a direction to reach the parking lot of towed cars.

My mind was wondering why it was towed for the first time and also wondered, if it had not been towed, it must have been stolen. The former would be much more bearable than the latter. With a little gasp I reached the towed parking. There, I found my car parked.

After all the inquiry and vehicle document checking, I was required to pay a fine. The person in charge quoted two different ways of paying the towed charge. One, Rs. 400 without any proof of payment. The other, Rs. 600 with police record. I insisted that whichever amount I paid it must have a legal proof of receipt. The person asked me, he rather bargained with me, to pay the lesser amount of Rs. 400 without any receipt and any police notification. My conscience would not be bribed and without any hesitation I asked for a receipt for which I paid Rs. 500 as towing and parking charges, and was further asked to meet the traffic police posted nearby with the receipt to pay another Rs. 100 for parking. I chose to pay the right amount at the right price than unrighteously meddle with my God given conscience. It was so cheap a price of Rs. 200 difference for a pure and clean conscience. I gladly acknowledged my mistake in parking on the roadside though for a reasonable cause, and would gladly pay for it for breaking the unwritten law if I had violated it. The peace within me is much more precious than the price I paid for, for the penalty of parking at a public parking place with no "No Parking" sign. 

I was, indeed, very peaceful and at rest by paying the right higher amount with a proper receipt. Otherwise, the Rs. 400 would merely be a bribe money for the towing agency. But my question was, why was my car towed when many other cars on the same lane were not towed? There never was a "No Parking" sign as that is the usual lane for parking for meat buyers. Had their been a "No Parking" sign I would have avoided parking there as there are many such signs now. Whatever my rational mind have reasoned, there definitely is a lesson for me to learn. Both in discerning where to park and how to handle corrupt people on public duty. I am glad that I could learn this lesson. Hope I learn it thoroughly well. 

No "No Parking" and no bribing.

Much grace from the Lord is needed to enjoy uninterrupted fellowship with the Lord in perfect peace. Grace me, Lord! Ever. 

Evening Revival

City life has its own twists and turns in lifestyle. The most notable twist is that of timing. Reasons well known to the city dwellers, life is nocturnal. People work day and even late into the night; life is so busy in metro city that modern city lifestyle is today's version of the slavery system of the past. To shepherd new ones in the city, a way has to be adopted that suits them. That was what I just did.

Since last week I have been visiting a brother for an "evening revival". Though evening for me, to him it is his morning. For he works the whole night on USA shift and sleeps the whole day. Just for the sake of timing, shepherding cannot be nullified. One has to adapt himself to meet the need of the new ones. This has been a new experience to me. This also is good for me, and I deem it a blessing, as I can spend about half an hour every day after my office work to be refreshed all over again as was in the morning. Morning or evening, we need to be revived all the time.

My first meeting with him was a few years ago when he never believed into the Lord. Last year, we met again and that led him to his baptism. And this year I am meeting him again, for a normal Christian life for the church life. When I met him last month, he was into financial and marital issues. As we began the evening revival and started our regular corporate prayer, the Lord worked in his circumstances. Things took a positive turn and my brother's faith was very much strengthened. Our time together was pursuing the current HWMR and prayer. Our fellowship and relationship in the Lord became much sweeter. 

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until the full day. Proverbs 4:18

Our day begins with the dawn and goes on till dusk. As much as morning revival is necessary, so much the more, evening revival. Revival in the morning, revival throughout the day. Revival in the evening, and revival in the night. Yes, revival the whole day and night. That is the real revival.

May the Lord shepherd us and revive us day and night.

Shepherding Visitation

An invitation for visiting a brother came to me through my wife who has been praying with a sister. This particular brother was introduced to me many years ago when he stayed with a family I used to visit for shepherding and who now is shepherded into the church life. Since our first meeting, his main struggle was with faith in the word of God itself, which the Lord gradually clarified in due course. Now that he is married and has a son, things have become much better. His fundamental faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the word of God is firm, though he still has ups and downs as we all do. He and his family have been prayed for by my wife and another sister consistently.

It was last Friday night that a brother and I went to visit the family who came to visit his aunty. Our conversation began with the general human care of cherishing. I was led by the Lord to testify to him and his wife of my Christian life, family life, and church life: Christ must be the Head and He must have the first place in all things in the family life. The love between husband and wife must be the love of Christ operating in both. Only when Christ is given His rightful position in the family life that family life will be a normal and proper Christian family life.

On the nourishing side, the Lord burden me to lead them to pursue, "Calling Upon the Name of the Lord" together. We all pursue the truth concerning calling upon the name of the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord together. The family visit was an enjoyable one and a turning point in their Christian life, family life, and church life. They also fellowshipped to be in fellowship with the saints and the church in their locality, New Delhi, and also to have a regular phone call prayer with some brother and sister.

Though they had no intention to stay longer in Gurugram, they stayed over for the weekend, attended the prayer meeting on Saturday and also the Lord's Table Meeting on the Lord's day. The Lord is merciful to them as He is to all. The brother and sister also have decided to have a phone call prayer regular with a brother and sister. 

May the Lord shepherd His sheep into His flock.

Defense and Confirmation in India

The Lord has been blessing His testimony in India; through the propagation work of preaching the gospel and raising up local churches, through the free ministry literature distribution, and also through the promotion and distribution of the ministry of the word. This is the work of the Lord. As the Lord's work progresses through the ministry of the age, the enemy was stirred up. The sleeping Lion has been awakened and began to threaten us to thwart the Lord's work. But with full assurance I can declare in faith, "the enemy is the defeated foe". The more he raises up his ugly horns, the more the work of the Lord will progress until the consummation of the age. This reminds me of the Lord's word in Matthew 16:18:

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The Lord Jesus Christ will build up His church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Full stop!)

In India too, as the Lord's move has been intensified we begin to experience the threatening and thwarting works of Satan. As throughout the history of the Lord's move all over the world, attacks came from the non-Christians and Christians alike in different flavor though. This time we received a very unprofessional attack on the ministry by a brother who barely read and understood what the ministry says or is. If the attacked were from a well-read and well-known person it could have had some weight at least on the truth side, but with this one, mentioning the Lord's recovery as an example or one of the groups of "cult" in India, my first impression was: this brother must either be spiritually blind or ignorantly misinformed. Anyway, spiritual warfare comes in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes, I wonder if it is worth taking it seriously. Yet for the sake of the truth and the Lord's testimony, I deem it right to give him a fitting reply. Perhaps, as defense and confirmation of the truth, for our learning and perfecting in bearing the Lord's testimony, and also to help the opposer see and know what the truth is as revealed in the Bible.

This first public attack came through a well-known Christian organization, whose founder is a reputed Christian preacher in India and he was not aware of such an attack which came from the organization he once founded, was more of surprise shock. Still, it is good for us,  brothers serving in the publication and propagation work of the Lord's recovery in India, as it blended us together more and prepared us to face such attacks, as this may not be the first nor the last one either. And this also ushered us into a sweeter and closer fellowship with the serving brothers of the Defense and Confirmation Project (DCP) in USA. We enjoyed a perfecting time of fellowship over Skype with the DCP brothers and we also learned how to defend the truth; an experience of the saints in Philippi with Paul.

Even as it is right for me to think this concerning you all because you have me in your heart, since both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel you are all fellow partakers with me of grace. Phillipians 1:7

Some portion of the reply concerning our attitude towards other believers in Christianity is worth mentioning. Our reply reads:

We understand your concern towards the change in attitude of those believers who were earlier meeting and serving with you. We are making sincere efforts to educate all the believers who are meeting as local churches in fellowship with us about the need to maintain a proper attitude towards fellow believers, which this ministry has always maintained and emphasized. The following quote from an elders’ training conducted in 1984 is just one sample among several such portions by Witness Lee.

“We not only love the Christians outside of us, but we also love all human beings….

We should never be sectarian, and we should always be open to all people. We should not only be open to all the Christians but also be open to all the unbelievers. Because we have received the Lord’s mercy and we are now a people bearing God’s testimony in His truth and in His life, we must learn to be open at all times to every Christian, teaching the truth and ministering the life supply to them…” 

He continued by advising the elders that when they meet other Christians, “Do not change your attitude, but still be open to them. Present the truth and minister life to them. Try not to consider, think, or feel that they are different from the saints who are with us, because they also are our fellow believers in Christ.” He charged the elders that “we should never try to proselytize Christians” from other groups but “we must always do our best, on the other hand, to preach the gospel, teach the truth, and minister life.” He concluded, “Let other Christians have their own choice regarding the matter of the church” (Elders’ Training, Book 4: Other Crucial Matters Concerning the Practice of the Lord’s Recovery). We quote this here to show that this ministry never advocates discrimination among believers, irrespective of whether they meet with us in a local church or not. We realize that in practice some may not have lived up to this standard, and it is our hope that we could work together with you to clear up any offenses that may have occurred.

On his lack of understanding what the author of the book says and immaturely coming to his own limited and biased conclusion ignorantly by picking a few phrases or lines out of context, our reply reads: 

We thank you for sharing your concern about the quotation you have cited from The History of the Church and the Local Churches, opening the doors for fellowship on this matter. We request you to examine the statement in its context, taking into consideration Witness Lee’s focus and burden in that portion. We believe that you will readily realize that what he is saying is that, believers should not stop with revivals, mission work, or study of the Bible, but should go on to fulfill God’s goal, God’s eternal purpose, which is to build up the Body of Christ. The foregoing paragraphs in that portion show that Witness Lee is neither disparaging revivals, mission work, or Bible study, nor discounting their need, but expressing the burden that all such revivals, mission works, and Bible study must be for the fulfilling of God’s eternal purpose, that is, the building up of the Body of Christ. We believe that you also would agree on this. We do not believe that you, or BYM, would want merely to do a mission work without aiming your labor to result in the building up of the Body of Christ. The following is a quote as a sample of Witness Lee’s appreciation of Christians in denominations and of his attitude towards the work of missionaries.

“We thank the Lord for sending the Western missionaries to China to bring us the gospel. They told people that Jesus is the Son of God who became a man and died on the cross for our sins. They said that if we believe in Him we would receive the forgiveness of our sins. We heard the proper preaching of Christ being our Savior. These missionaries also brought us the real name of Jesus Christ, and we treasured this. They also brought the Bible with them, providing us with one of the best Chinese translations of the Bible. We thank God for these three things: the gospel, the name of Jesus, and the Bible.” (The God-ordained way to Practice the New Testament Economy)

This experience is a perfect lesson for us to uphold the truth of the Bible. Officially as literature serving one, I was burdened to set by a miniature DCP for India for quite some time. Now, I believe the time has come. May the Lord grace us, train us, and perfect us for the defense and confirmation of the truth. 

Words of Warning

Words of Warning Against the Worldly Ways

These days in my village Keikhu the enemy seems to have been awakened as we have been strongly and regularly praying for the salvation of the entire village. As a family we are bearing this burden as the Lord blessed us with, therefore, every family praying at night we have been praying for the salvation of the entire village of Keikhu. Now that there are three groups of believers, the mainline Baptist and Catholics, and a few families of the saints in the Lord's recovery, the enemy seems to have injected an evil thought of corruption in the name of culture, tradition, and religion. 

I was informed that the brothers in my village who are in the church life were being asked to join hands with the ritualistic and traditional heathen practices of the village which were carried down from the forefathers who did not know the true and living God. This compromise came from the so-called mainline "churches." But the brothers were clear with the truths and stood firm against this evil infiltration. When a summon was made in the highest authority in the village, the brothers kept their faith and their stand for the purity of the truth. The village authority accepted the stand of the brothers.  I worship the Lord for this grace given to the few brothers. 

Few months later, due to the instigation of the enemy through religion, even Christianity as a religion, a re-evaluation of the previous decision made at the summoning was initiated, purportedly by a brother who is not clear with the truths of the Bible. When I was informed, I took it to the Lord in prayer not knowing how to respond. But today, the Lord impressed me strongly to bring out relevant Bible verses from both the old and the new testament to show how God has commanded us to be sanctified. Therefore, I composed a message, basically a collection of verses and notes and sent it to my family members, especially to those who are involved in the aforementioned matter. The message reads:  

Leviticus 18:1-3Then Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, I am Jehovah your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, in which you dwelt; and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, nor shall you walk in their statutes.

Footnotes from the Holy Bible, Recovery Version.

The Israelites’ not living in the manner of the Egyptians, among whom they once lived, signifies that the believers should put off, as regards their former old way of living, the old man (Eph. 4:22). The Israelites’ not living in the manner of the Canaanites, to whose land they were to be brought, signifies that, after being saved, the believers should not be conformed to the living and conduct of the worldly people (Rom. 12:2). The Israelites’ living a holy life according to God’s holiness (v. 4—20:27) signifies that the believers should put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Eph. 4:24).

Leviticus 20:23And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am about to send away before you. Because they did all these things, so I abhorred them.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18Do not become dissimilarly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? And what concord does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, even as God said, “I will dwell among them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Therefore “come out from their midst and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you”; “And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”

These are words of warning against the worldly ways, that we may live a clean, holy, pure, and rejoicing life for the fulfillment of God's economy.

May the Lord sanctify and separate us for His pure and holy testimony.

Corporate Joshua

Joshua1:2 Moses My servant is dead; now then arise, and cross over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the children of Israel.1:3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads I have given to you, as I promised Moses.1:6 Be strong and take courage, for you will cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them.1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, being certain to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Do not turn away from it to the right or to the left, that you may have success wherever you go.1:8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall muse upon it day and night so that you may be certain to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success. 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and take courage; do not be afraid or dismayed. For Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.

The good land of the old promised to the Israelites is the all-inclusive Christ today. God had promised the good land and also granted the good land to the people of Israel already, yet they need to fight against the former inhabitants of the good land, drive them away, divide the good land among themselves, and possesses it to enjoy the riches of the good land flowing with milk and honey. 

Satan, the enemy of God, has been doing his utmost to hinder the people of God from enjoying Christ as the all-inclusive One; he will do whatever he can to keep us from enjoying Christ as the good land. To this day, evil forces are veiling the all-inclusiveness of Christ from God's people. 

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those who are perishing, in whom the god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelievers that the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 2 Corinthians 4:3-5

One of the foremost and notable veils is the subtle veil of religion. Besides, there are veils of philosophy, culture, natural life, the self, the flesh, the old man etc. Therefore, there is an exceeding great spiritual warfare in which we must engage; for these veils hinder the growth of the believes, and much more, hamper the building up of the organic Body of CChrist. Therefore, we need to be todays' Joshua and Caleb, fighting against and defeating the satanic forces so that we can gain more of Christ for the building uyp of the Body of Christ, for the fulfilment of God's eternal purpsoe.

The enjoyment of the all-inclusive Christ also needs our fighting for it, yet to fight, we cannot do it by ourselves, we must do it corporately as the Body of Christ. Joshua was merely the deputy authority God had ordained to literally fight for, conquer, and possess the good land. He did not do it by himself but as a corporate Joshua, with all the children of Israel. Today, the same principle holds. We must fight as a corporate Joshua to possess and enjoy the all-inclusive Christ, our Good Land.

In order to possess the good land and defeat the satanic forces, we need to be formed into a corporate Joshua. As the good land, Christ is ready to be taken and possess by us; however, there is a need for us to fight the battle to take Christ and possess as our good land. In one accord and in oneness, Joshua and the children of Israel stood together to fight to possess the good land. In fact, Israel had become a corporate Joshua, chosen, called, redeemed, saved, trained, prepared, and qualified by God, ready to go on with God as one to take the land of Canaan. Similarly, to gain the all-inclusive Christ, we need to be a corporate Joshua, fighting the battle, taking the land, and enjoying Christ as our inheritance. After being formed, constituted, disciplined, trained, and qualified, God's people had come to the plains of Moab, where they were waiting to enter into the good land, to take it, and to possess it. This formation of the children of Israel into an army for God typifies the New Testament believers' being built up into the organic Body of Christ to fight for the carrying out of His economy. As a result, God's army, a corporate Joshua, was prepared and ready to take the good land under the blessing of God.

This burden was released in the last Pillars Training held for the saints in the churches in NCR. The Lord's speaking impressed me so deeply with the burden He has released for the churches. For my Christian life and for the church life to enjoy the all-inclusive Christ I need to fight a spiritual battle with the saints as the Body of Christ as a corporate Joshua. This is the timely need in the ongoing spiritual warfare.  

Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, for our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies. Ephesians 6:10-12