Responsibility

Ezra 10:4 Arise, for the matter is your responsibility, but we are with you; be strong, and do it. 

The Lord in His sovereignty has placed me in the Body where He deems best. Never did I ambitiously try to grab to be what I am today. In fact, I used to consider before the Lord how His mercy has led me thus far and how His grace has made me what I am today. In fact, my profile tag line has been,

1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace unto me did not turn out to be in vain, but, on the contrary, I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I but the grace of God which is with me.

I simply serve as a serving ones wherever the Lord placed me, and pray that His grace would be sufficient to me to carry out the responsibility faithfully. As much as I am being graced, I do my best to function responsibly and restrict myself to what is not really my responsibility. For, I am not ignorant of the germs of self-glory and self-exaltation and of seeking man's praise indirectly. The Lord in His mercy has been dealing with me in this matter of "ambition" since the very beginning of my service. I dare not say that I have learned the lesson thoroughly well, but I can testify that I am learning this lesson. Hopefully, I will learn it well.

Recently, through the visit of a brother and his fellowship on how I should boldly function pertaining to the responsibilities the Lord has placed me in, my view was uplifted, perhaps, renewed. As we fellowship concerning an international event to be hosted in India for the first time under the legal entity of the literature where I serve as one of the Directors, he charged me, "Be serious, be bold, you are a Director!" I was a little passive in this matter as there are few other brothers who I feel can take the lead. Officially and positionally, I can do all the legal approval and signing of documents, but the active works I leave it to the brothers. I prefer to follow them and support them, and amen them. But the brother's strong charge to me made me reconsider the way I serve. In fact, I am peaceful now to go ahead and do what needs to be done, boldly. Not in a way of ruling over others, nor exercising authority over others, but simply functioning as I ought to, responsibly. Therefore, I went ahead and jumped in to do what I need to do officially.

Here in Chennai where we have an office too, I need to take some immediate actions to meet the need for carrying out official works. With the responsibility assigned to me as a serving brother, officially as a Director, I took all the decisions to take care of the office works, purchasing office needs, though expensive they may be: inverter batteries, network printers, and few other office works and the oversight of the entire office operation. In my natural man, I would not and dare not do such things. Given a choice, I would rather follow others' leading obediently and faithfully. But since the Lord has placed me in such an official position, I must be faithful to the responsibilities the Lord has assigned to me.

Now I have no chose. I must arise, for the matter is my responsibility, but my brothers are with me; so I must be strong, and I must do what needs to be done. 

Lord, grace me to bear responsibility faithfully and boldly. 

RCV Tamil Translation

Tamil is the language in which we have the highest number of ministry books translated. It also has the highest number of saints in the Lord's recovery. The capital city of Tamilnadu also hosts the biggest church and highest number of local saints meeting in the local church. This team also has young saints who loves the Lord and gave themselves up to serve the Lord. A couple, husband and wife, are the translators for the text of the Bible. Each member in this team has an experience in translation even before they fully came into the literature service. They all learned Greek online and  passed the Greek exam that qualified them to translate the Recovery Version of the Bible.

The checking of the translated texts of this team was very good according to our brother who is an expert in Greek. He expressed how he felt about this team with an applause, "Excellent! You have done a good work." The translation work of this team did not need much adjustment as they did it quite well. The checking work finished faster than any other language checking so far. We could finish checking their works in just a day where other languages team took two days.

Besides, the church in Chennai where we have the literature office and all translators in Tamil resides are also burdened for the literature service. The church gave us hospitality as we carry out the checking work of the Recovery Version translation in this city. In addition, a brother from the church gave us his office conference room to carry out the checking of the Bible translation. Our coordination has been very sweet and the Lord has been blessing the literature service in this city.

May the faithful Lord who began the Tamil translation of the Recovery Version Bible also grace all those involved in the translation service to complete it in time. 

RCV Malayalam Translation

Malayalam is the first language in India to which the ministry of the word was translated. This is also the mother tongue of the saints who met as the local church for the first time in India in 1989. Thirty years after the ministry books were translated into Malayalam, the text of the first five books of the New Testament Recovery Version Bible was translated. 

The team of translator of this language was brought in by the Lord's sovereignty. This team comprises a medical doctor, a doctorate degree holder in English literature, an Engineer, and a management consultant. None of these ever had a translation experience before they were brought in. They all are young brothers and sisters who loves the Lord and gave themselves up for the Lord's interest. When a Greek online class was introduced in 2014, these saints were enrolled and they all learned Greek faithfully for about three years. Once they all learned Greek and passed the exam, they were declared qualified for the translation of the  New Testament Bible into their own language, Malayalam. That's how the Lord brought them in. 

After two years of translation, we did the checking of their translation into Malayalam. It was amazing. They have done a good work. Our brother who has come for checking their work was so impressed. As we all went through about 500 selected verses for checking, there hardly was any mistake except for few adjustments. Observing all that the Lord has been doing through them, I thought to myself, "the Lord indeed honours the labor and prices paid by His chosen ones for His work." I do believe the Lord has blessed their work and will continue to bless until the completion of the entire translation work, and further bless the Malayalam speaking people with the accurately translated and properly interpreted word of God. 

I personally feel blessed to be able to fellowship and co-work with them in the literature service. 

May the faithful Lord who began the Malayalam translation of the Recovery Version Bible also grace all those involved in the translation service to complete it in time. 

RCV Mizo Translation

Mizo language is perhaps the only language with a full fledge statehood in India and whose entire Mizo population is Christian, at least by religion, if not by being born anew in Spirit. The gospel has reached this state more than hundred years ago. Though the population itself is not that big compared to other Indian languages, the Lord graced the Mizo translation team to be able to translate the Recovery Version Bible into Mizo.

Thanks be to the Lord who sovereignly blessed me with a mother who belongs to one of the tribes of Mizo. Since my childhood, by virtue of growing up with my maternal grand parent I picked up the basic of this language. In fact, when I was in school I got the highest score in that language subject. Little did I realise that that language skill would ever be useful one day. The Lord is sovereignly wise.

As we checked the translation of the Recovery Version Bible into Mizo, many of the language skill I learned decades ago became very useful in checking and verifying the correctness of the Bible translation. I myself was surprised that my knowledge of language was sufficient to discern between right and wrong translation, and also discern the accuracy of translation. As we went through about 500 verses checking the Mizo translation, the language skill I learned since my childhood became very useful. What a grace!

The sisters who are involved in the translation are specially graced to do this. Though, in the initial stage of learning Greek, they struggled a lot, eventually they made through it. Similarly, they also struggled when they came to serve in the translation service, now they have been trained and are now in the process of being perfected in their service. I worship the Lord for His sovereignty in leading the team through. The entire Mizo Christian population will be blessed when the Recovery Version Bible in Mizo is published. O, how I long to see that day! It will be a great blessing to the Mizo Christians in leading them to the proper and accurate understanding of the word of God.

May the faithful Lord who began the Mizo translation of the Recovery Version Bible also grace all those involved in the translation service to complete it in time. 

RCV Hindi Fellowship

The brothers overseeing the translation of the Recovery Version Bible came to India to fellowship on the possibility of translating the New Testament into Hindi. Two years ago, brothers had come, but at that time we had no one prepared and trained to do the work. But the Lord has now gained some potential translators. In fact, there are two sisters who have finished the full time training, who were born and brought up in Hindi speaking city, and who also learned Greek and passed the exam with outstanding performance in the exams. These two sister also got married, both of their husbands are serving the Lord full time, and they both are serving the Lord full time in the translation service. Beside, three other brothers who have been translating the ministry books into Hindi also joined the fellowship. The Lord in time has gained the translators for the great need in Hindi.

One day of fellowship with all these Hindi translators opened a new door for the Lord to move through the literature service in India among the Hindi speaking people. Through the fellowship, the two sisters and a brother were given assignments for translation: The Kingdom, God's New Testament Economy  and the Crystallization-study of Roman. These books have to be translated on time by the end of June this year. This assignment will decide if they are qualified to work on the Recovery Version Bible into Hindi. This is a time of preparation for the Lord's marvelous move through the literature in North India.

There are two other brothers who are more qualified in term of translation per se. But their humanity and spiritual condition have issues that are causes of concern as the translation of the Recovery Version Bible must be done by our own coworkers with whom we are coordinating in the one unique ministry and are representing the Lord. In other word, they must be our coworkers. So far, the two brothers are not yet fully one with the ministry. This discernment from the brother and comment on who can be translators of the Recovery Version Bible is an eye opening to me. Nevertheless, they can continue in their translation service of title books.

Few years ago, brothers were so burdened to bring out the Recovery Version Bible into Hindi. Mere presence of burden is not the qualification to go ahead and do it. There must be the proper vessels to properly carry out the burden. Proper vessels in the sense of qualification, both in English, Hindi and Greek, and also with a normal spiritual condition is a must to translate the Recovery Version Bible. Now, the Lord has given the vessels who meets the qualifications. By mid of this year, the Lord will grace to finally begin the translation of the Recovery Version Bible into Hindi.

Lord, grace us through to be able to bring out the Bible Recovery Version into Hindi. 

First Resurrection

This morning as I was reading and studying the word of God, the "first resurrection" was very enlightening to me. I never really understood this phrase, though I heard about it now and then. The ministry of the word opened my eyes to see this important spiritual aspiration to pursue and love the Lord fervently and intimately. My spiritual goal must henceforth be, to be resurrected in the first resurrection as an overcomer. 

Revelation of John 20:4-6

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and of those who had not worshipped the beast nor his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. 

The ministry of the word has made known to me the mystery of this phrase. I learn from it and am blessed. I quote from the note in the Recovery Version on "first resurrection."

Or, best. The first resurrection is the best one. It is not only the resurrection of life (John 5:29; 1 Cor. 15:23b; 1 Thes. 4:16) but also the resurrection of reward (Luke 14:14), the out-resurrection, i.e., the outstanding resurrection, which the apostle Paul sought (Phil. 3:11), the resurrection of kingship as a reward to the overcomers, which enables them to reign as co-kings with Christ in the millennial kingdom (vv. 4, 6). Hence, blessed is he who has part in the first resurrection (v. 6).

Note on "priests of God" 

The overcomers will be priests, drawing near to God and Christ, and kings, reigning over the nations with Christ in the millennium (2:26-27; 12:5). As priests, they satisfy God and Christ, who enjoy their service, and as kings they reign for God and represent God, shepherding man for man’s enjoyment and satisfaction. This is a reward to the overcomers. The believers who are defeated in this age will forfeit this reward. However, after being dealt with by the Lord in the millennium, these defeated ones will participate in the blessing of this reward, which will be to serve God and represent God in the kingship in the new heaven and new earth for eternity (22:3, 5).

This colossal truth on the first resurrection impacted my inward being so much so that it changed by attitude towards my Christian life and my goal as a Christian. My aspiration in life is to be an overcomer and be resurrected in the first resurrection. 

Who are qualified to be in the first resurrection? The word of God says, "the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and of those who had not worshipped the beast nor his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." To be beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus is the highest form of martyrdom. Only those who are graced by the Lord will get to attain this. If the Lord so wills, it will be an honor to be awarded "the beheading" because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God. What a reward to be "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years." 

Lord, grace me the grace to live a life that will qualify me to be a part of the first resurrection.

Twenty Years and Above

Numbers 1:3From twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go forth for military service in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their companies.

The books of Numbers specifically mentioned the age of one's who are qualified to be numbered into the army of God. The age is twenty and above. This number is very significant. It implies the necessity of meeting a requirement who would be numbered and formed into an army, and not general for all. The spiritual implications are:

Strong 

The twenty years and above without any upper limit are of male. Meaning, the strong ones among the children of God. This qualification of being strong is needed for God's army.

Overcome the Evil One

1 John 2:13I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, young children, because you know the Father.

This group of people are those who overcomes the evil one. This needs the growth in the divine life. Only normal and daily spiritual growth can enable one to over the evil one. In fact, only Jesus Christ overcomes the evil one. When the believers grow in life, the life of Jesus in them and being lived out through them makes them an overcomer.

Abiding in the Word of God 

1 John 2:14I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you and you have overcome the evil one. 

It is the word of God that makes the believes grow, and it is also the word of God that builds up the believers. This group of believers are the ones who loves the word of God, pursues, eats, enjoys the word of God, and are constituted with the word of God making them abide in the word of God. This is the secret to live an overcoming life and be qualified to be recruited into the army of God. 

Not Loving the World

1 John 2:15Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him;

This group of believers are those who overcomes the usurpation of Satan and the stupefying effect of the world with all its lust, glitter, and glamour. This also includes those who do not love the present age.

To be formed into the army of God to fight with God against His enemy for His interest on the earth, we must be twenty years and above. This urgently requires our prayer. We are not ignorant of the enemy's strength and strategy. In fact, we are surrounded by him. As the army of God we are protecting and maintaining the testimony of God and fighting against the rebellious forces of Satan. For this reason, we need to grow to be above twenty years of spiritual age.

Lord, cause the growth in me daily; may I grow in life beyond twenty years of age.