Gospel Friend: Jesus Lover

During the past two weeks propagation in Gurugram, the team that went to Sector 57 at Hongkong Bazar contacted a lady who was open to the Lord and to the saints. Last Lord's day a sister spoke to me about this lady and proposed a possible home visit. My innate reaction was, whoever the Lord gave us we will faithfully follow up.

Last Tuesday afternoon I went along with my wife and that sister to visit her. At our very first meeting, I sensed that she loved the Lord Jesus as she herself testified of how much good feeling she has for Jesus though she has her own forefather's religion and she is married to a priestly class of an Indian Brahmin.

As she invited us into her home, I introduced myself and requested her to introduce herself too. Then she narrated her life story from her childhood till that very day we visited her. Her connection with Jesus dated back to the time she was in a Christian school where she learned the story of Jesus. She used to be appointed to the service of arranging things in a school chapel, that made her faith in the Lord Jesus even stronger. Later in her life, she would go to visit a church on Sundays in New Delhi. Nevertheless, she was never baptized nor she committed herself to any Christian group for regular meeting or fellowship. Once she got married she somehow drifted away from her "faith" in the Lord Jesus until she met the saints during the propagation.

Her story was very encouraging to us, especially to the sister whom she met. This sister came into the church life a year ago and we have been shepherding her family for over a year. Now she began to function in the church life. In her first ever preaching the gospel with the saints, the Lord gave her this new contact. Our sister was so joyful for this gospel fruit. It was such an encouragement to me too, for the new lady who loves Jesus, and also of our sister who is beginning to bear spiritual fruit.

The Lord led me to help the lady lay a good and strong spiritual foundation in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the word of God. So I preached the gospel of Jesus Christ using Bible verses from Matthew 1:21,23 on "Who is Jesus?" and Acts 2:21 on "Calling upon the name of the Lord." Then we all called upon the Lord's name together and I specifically helped her to pray and receive the Lord as her Lord, God, and Saviour. 

She also mentioned how lonely she used to feel at times, and how desperate she has been for her son, who seems to be a little naughty. She also expressed her feeling to introduce her husband to us. With such openness, I asked her if she would be willing to meet once a week. She replied in the affirmative and chose Monday evenings for a home meeting with her family.

After releasing our burden concerning the new contact and the visit, we all prayed for her and ended the meeting for the day, looking forward to seeing her family next week gain. As we drove back, we simply praised the Lord for His doings and that the Lord would preserve her for His testimony.

May the Lord grant this family a household salvation!

A Family's Fellowship

Last week, a brother called me up and said he would come with his wife for an important and urgent fellowship. I was not too sure what the matter was but looked to the Lord for His feeling within to be able to supply life to the couple. 

As the couple came, another brother and I paid heed to whatever they have to fellowship. Listening and discerning their real need as they were speaking was the main thing I did. As they continued to pour out their burdens, the only thing I could do was, pray to the Lord inwardly and asked for the Lord's speaking and His feeling. Once they finished whatever they were burdened to fellowship with, the Lord's feeling within me was very clear. But I waited for the other brother to speak first.

As the brother spoke, the Lord confirmed His speaking within me. The feeling I got from the Lord was the same feeling my coordinating brother spoke. The Lord, the Head of the Body, speaks the same thing concerning the same matter and person. In this case, the speaking of the Lord was as follow:

One Flesh

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. Ephesians 5:31

The principle set forth in the Bible concerning a married couple is that they should stay together as much as possible. Except for an avoidable circumstance, no decsion should be made to stay separtely even for a while. The Lord ordained that husband and wife are one flesh and must be one. Any suggestion otherwise may not be from the Lord. This couple was contemplating staying separtely for a preiod of time due to health and financial reason. The solution they devised for their problem was actually suggesting another bigger problem. A brother and I fellowshipped with them in love to reconsider their decision and not try to break the Lord's principle set forth for husband and wife. We both fellowshipped with the couple, they must stay together by all means. 

Pitch Tent Towards the Tabernacle

The children of Israel shall encamp each by his own standard with the ensigns of their fathers’ households; they shall encamp facing the Tent of Meeting on every side. Numbers 2:2

In the formation of the army of God, the Israelite were to pitch their tents facing the Tent of Meeting. This arrangement is contrary to the human concept of pitching a tent in a battle field. Naturally, you have to face towards the enemy if you are on a battlefield. But God's arrangment is, facing the Tent of Meeting, and the enemy is faced on the back side. 

The couples' consideration of stay separately is based on their health, finance, and convenience. But what the brother fellowshipped was what the Lord led me to fellowship too. All our decisions of family matters, job, finance, etc., should be centered on Christ and the church. Our whole life must be directed towards God. All things else are secondary. We both echoed the same burden. Besides staying together, whatever decision they make must be centered on Christ and the church. Where they stay, what job they take up must be with the view that they can be for the Lord's testimony.

The Leading of the Lord

And when they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, yet the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. Acts 16:7

The final matter I fellowshipped with the couple is related to seeking the will of the Lord in everything. Whatever decision they are making, it must be out of the Lord's leading. The Lord knows the best. Everything that they do much be based on the Lord's leading and not due to circumstances. The Lord's leding must be the key to making any decision. Therefore, I encouraged them to look to the Lord in prayer before taking any call for whatever matter.

It was indeed a wonderful time of fellowship and learning to seek the will of the Lord. Through the couple's fellowshipped I also learned a deep lesson of coordination with my coworker and discerning inwardly the speaking and feeling of the Lord. The Lord is perfecting all of us through various means and circumstances. 

Praise the Lord!

Spiritual Warfare

Continuous spiritual warfare has been raging between God and Satan since eternity past. The same has been going on and has been felt practically in the church life here in Gurugram. The Lord has been moving on in this city, and we, as the church, has been actively participating in the Lord's move in coordination. Yet, the enemy subtly tried to sneak into our coordination and thwart the Lord's move. Thank God, Christ is Victor!

Since the time we began the propagation in our city, Gurugram, the brothers who are to be on the forefront were being knocked out from "the line of duty." A brother suddenly stopped joining the gospel preaching without any fellowship nor without any explanation. On being encouraged to participate, he simply said that he could not make it. My innate reaction was, "What! we have been praying and preparing ourselves for this, and how come you simply backed down when you are most needed?" Well, that's just my feeling. I can't force him to join back in. 

Another brother who was supposed to join full time became so busy with physical works, though propagation related, he could not come for the gospel preaching on the field. Physical responsibilities suddenly became stumbling blocks for him to participate in the actual preaching of the gospel. On being asked, he simply said he will take care of all the physical things except the gospel preaching. Though his function was well appreciated and was also needed, it was not really up to the mark, as the actual burden is not the physical arrangement for food and transportation, but the gospel preaching. 

A sister suddenly had a misconception about her participation in the gospel move and felt being neglected besides having a misunderstanding with her husband and her children falling sick. Concepts and opinions plagued her soul that she eventually avoided coming to the meetings, much less, the gospel preaching.

Despite all these, we were not hindered in our gospel move. It made us more aggressive and prayerful. Deep within me, I knew we were on a battlefield; the enemy's darts were hurled at us, we should not back down, neither retreat nor surrender, but charged forward in prayer and preaching the gospel. That's what we exactly did. And the Lord's victory became our victory!

These experiences were nothing new to me. I have been experiencing all kinds of attacks. But it all proved to me strongly that we are on the right track. We are causing harm to the enemy. The gospel is being preached, many sinners began to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time in their lives, and many began to call upon the Lord's name and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. The word of God is spreading,  growing, and multiplying. The church is spreading and growing. No wonder, spiritual warfare is also raging.  The outward attack of the enemy helps in most cases, therefore, the inward attack within and among the believers are no surprises. As the church in our locality, we will go forward to preach the gospel and gain increase for the Lord's testimony.

Praise the Lord for His move and His testimony in Gruugram!

Life Lessons for Serving Ones

The word of God is plain and clear. With the help fo the ministry, my eyes have been opened and enlightened to see some intrinsic matters related to the serving ones of the Lord. Despite the apostles of the Bible being the pioneers in the propagation of the crucified, resurrected, and ascended Christ, the Bible honestly records their failures too, for our learning. My initial natural and religious understanding was, all the apostles were anointed and whatever they did was absolutely accroding to God. Well, not so in every case. I felt blessed to be able to see and learn from the apostles, not only of and from their successes but even more from their failures too.

Thre important points that touched me recently are:

Religion, Natural Concepts, and Opinions: Outward Problem

The early apostles were mostly Jewish and from Judaism. Even in the new testament, after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit both in the inward essential and outward economical aspect, they were not fully set free from their background of religion and natural constitution. Even when the Holy Spirit wanted to move among the Gentiles, an extraordinary vision was needed to finally convince them to move out of their religious concepts and follow the leading of the Lord as in the case of Peter in Acts 10. 

We must learn from the lesson of Peter to be saved from the veils of our religious traditions and old background so that we may see and live under the vision of God’s eternal economy to hold the truth of the gospel (Acts 10:9-16; Gal. 2:11-14).

This was the problem encountered in the spread of the church, the limitation, and bondage of Judaism (Acts 15:1-34). The believers in Judea were Jews who still kept the traditions of Judaism; they looked at the church from a Jewish viewpoint.…The Jews believed that their law, ordinances, and rituals were from God and pertained to piety; therefore, they considered themselves as those best able to keep God’s word. Satan used this thought to severely limit the church.

We must learn from the lesson of Apollos to be saved from a ministry that lacks a complete revelation of God’s New Testament economy and from not being fully one with the ministry of the age (Acts 18:24—19:2; 1 Cor. 1:12; 16:10-12). We must learn from the lesson of the mistake of James and the devastating mixture of the church in Jerusalem (vv. 18-26; Matt. 22:7; 24:1-2). We must learn from the lesson of Paul to be saved from the mixing of Judaic practices with God’s New Testament economy, which is not only erroneous but also abominable in the eyes of God (Acts 21:18-27, 31, 36; Heb. 10:29).

Natural Relationship and Preferences: Problem Between Workers

In serving the Lord, our preferences should be that of the Lord's and our natural relationship should in no way hinder the Lord's move, nor our oneness with one another. We must learn from the lesson of Barnabas to be saved from human opinions and natural relationships—disputes that arise among the coworkers because of personal relationships are terrible (Acts 13:13; 15:35-40; Col. 4:10). 

Barnabas and Paul could not be in one accord (Acts 15:35-41). Barnabas wanted to take Mark to visit the brothers, but Paul felt it was not suitable, and an argument arose between them. Their argument was the work of Satan. The spread of the church was greatly damaged because Barnabas andPaul could not be in one accord.

Self and the Flesh: Inward Problem

One subtle problem today in the Lord's move is not outward persecution or opposition, but the undealt self that has not learned the lesson of the cross enough and thoroughly well. Spiritual comfort zones are easily created when one is welcomed in a locality where he is a shepherd. He is well respected, honored, and even "blessed." But the Lord may want to go forward and move on. 

We must learn from the lesson of Paul in Acts 16:6-12; these verses indicate the problem of workers coming to a place and tending to become set and settled down, not wanting to move; old relationships, old affections, old inclinations, and old concepts keep us from following the inner leading of the indwelling Spirit.

While studying these portions from the Bible with the help of the ministry, I am alarmed and alerted. I am not immune to these problems. I, therefore, look to the Lord for His mercy that I may not repeat these mistakes in my service. 

Lord, grace me and have mercy on me to learn these life lessons thoroughly and absolutely well.

Gospel Meeting with Saints

After the one week of gospel preaching preparation with the trainees, the saints from abroad, Hsinchu-Taiwan, came to coordinate with us. Through this, I learned a lot of spiritual lessons.

Seeking the Lord in Prayer in Coordination as the Body

As the host, we were praying for weeks altogether. This enlarged our capacity in taking care of the church and in serving the Lord in a local church. Until the very last week before the saints from abroad came, we were not clear where to propagate. But we prayed and prayed until the Lord made all things clear through prayer and fellowship in the Body. This itself is a precious lesson in learning how to seek the Lord's will in prayer and in coordination. Finally, the places for propagation were finalized at DLF-3, Sector 55,56 & 57.

Serving in Coordination in Practical Matters

Many practical preparations of food and transportation for the entire period of propagation was also a blessing for the church. Brothers and sisters consecrated their time and energy to participate in the Lord's move. The sisters' function was especially noteworthy. They coordinated so well and prepared meals daily for about 40-50 people. This also enlarged their capacity in taking care of the meal service, not just once, but daily; not alone, but in coordination. Through this kind of propagation, the functions of the saints were manifested and enlarged. The practical lessons learned is worth all the prices paid.

Serving God Spiritually as the Army of God

The spiritual services of forming into teams as an army of God, going team by team to different communities, street by street, knocking door by door, and propagating the kingdom of God is marvelous! Many of the local people we preached the gospel to are hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time in their lives. Many of them called upon the name of the Lord and prayed the sinner's prayer to receive the Lord for the first time in their lives. Many received the gospel tract and the Bible for the first time. I have no scale of judgment to gauge the "success" of this gospel preaching. Statistics of seeking contacts is good, but the fact that the word of God is preached and sinners are saved is most precious. Only the Lord knows how many are saved. Our responsibility is to preach the gospel. No matter what the result is, preach the gospel. Whether people accept or reject, the gospel is being preached! This is how we serve God spiritually as the army of God!

Gospel Harvest and Feast

At the end of the week, we conducted another gospel meeting for the new ones contacted in the communities we propagated,. For this, we gave the opportunity to all the saints from abroad to fucntion. They functioned so well, and the gosple meeting was very rich. Five sisters and two brothers gave testimony of their salvation experience, two brothers led the meeting, and two brothers coordinated to preach the gospel message. In this meeting, three new ones got saved and were also batpised too! The meeting was so rich and enjoyable! Besides, the spiritual blessing, the sisters' coordination in preparing the meal for the gosple meeting was also amazing! The Lord has blessed the church and increased our capacity in hosting guests and conducting gosple metings. Praise the Lord!

Saints' Sacrifices

One more thing worth mentioning is the prices paid by the visiting saints who used their very precious annual holiday of one week, the Chinese New Year holiday, for the preaching of the gospel. They paid their own prices of buying flight tickets and meeting their own expenses for the kingdom of God, and bringing blessings to the church in Gurugram and also blessing the country! The Lord remembers the saints' sacrifices and will reward them accordingly. 

Praise the Lord for the gospel preaching and gospel meeting in coordination in the Body of Christ!

Gospel Meeting with Trainees

As a preparation for the combined gospel preaching in Gurugram with the brothers and sisters visiting us from abroad, we had a combined gospel preaching with the trainees first from the FTTND. Though our burden for the gospel preaching was in communities, for the sake of the younger trainees we considered it best to preach the gospel in DLF-3 where we already preached before; meeting young working people on the streets and also door-knocking of their rooms, most of whom are single. This comparatively is better for the younger ones who are learning to preach the gospel in communities. So for one week, we formed teams and went to preach the gospel.

Preaching the gospel on the streets and among the young working class can be done without language barriers as most could understand English. Besides, it is more conducive for beginners in gospel preaching to start from this class of people. I also joined a team of trainees and went to preach the gospel on streets as well as from door to door. All the other teams did likewise. And at the end of the one week, we had a gospel meeting as a harvest for the one week labor.

Our burden in conducting this gospel meeting has multiple goals. To harvest our labor on the field in the gospel preaching, to train the trainees to function in gospel meeting, and to bring blessing to the church with a gospel harvest and feast. For this gospel meeting we fellowshipped to let the trainees function in all the crucial aspects; in giving testimonies of salvation, preaching gospel message, leading people to baptism, and conducting the gospel meeting itself. Prayer and preparation were done, and the Lord also blessed the gospel meeting.

As planned and prepared, everything went well, and one new one got baptized! The trainees functioned very well though it was their first to function in this way for most of them. Even for the church, it was a good harvest time; for the saints to function in inviting people, preparing for the gospel meeting, and much more, it was a time of feasting!

Such a gospel meeting is always a win-win case. The entire church get to function and also receive the blessings from God! The trainees too received the blessing by their learning and functioning.

I myself am blessed to learn to coordinate with the trainees, and my wife too fully participated in cooking the meals for all the participants for the entire week along with a few other sisters. Praise the Lord!

Believe the Word of God

For “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

In my gospel preaching, whoever opened up, I used to lead them to call upon the name of the Lord and pray the sinner's prayer, believing in the word of God that “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” In the first two weeks of this month, the Lord graced me to actively participate in the propagation in our locality, Gururgram. In my team, we went house to house, door-knocking and preaching the gospel. The Lord opened the door for us wherever we went. To my surprise, almost everyone we met, opened up and listened to the gospel we were preaching and ended up calling upon the name of the Lord. I collected their names and phone numbers for future contact. In this way, we have a good number of seeking contacts.

Towards the end of the propagation for two weeks, the Lord struck me with a verse that I have been preaching, For “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The Lord's question to me was, "Palmei, do you believe this verse?" The questioning within my being went on for a couple of days. 

Literally, yes, I believe the word of God that “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And many have called upon the Lord through my gospel preaching. The specific question was, "Palmei, do you believe that all those who called upon the name of the Lord through your gospel preaching are indeed saved?" Honestly, the Lord cornered me and put me on a spot. My innate reply was, "Yes, Lord, I believe." But deep within, I also doubted whether all those who called upon the Lord's name are indeed saved. For, the major religion of my countrymen believes in pantheism, and they would accept any "god" being introduced to them, be it Jesus or whoever, for that matter. This was the reason I struggled for some time.

Then eventually the Lord spoke again and again to me, to believe in the word of God. And I am now fully convinced that “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  I have to stop to doubt the Lord's word, and I have to stop my doubting of the people who called upon the name of the Lord. Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9 was saved simply by calling upon the name of the Lord! I simply have to believe in the Lord's word and not trust my own human analytical judgment. Take the Lord at His word!

The following Lord's day, I gave testimony in the church meeting of my struggle with God on this verse, and how I eventually believed His word. No matter what my feelings may be, the Lord's word is faithful, true, and abiding. For “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

What a relief to get a clear cut confirmation from Himself concerning His word directly! Praise the Lord for the word of God!