Priest of Jehovah, Minister of Our God

But you will be called the priests of Jehovah; 

People will speak of you as the ministers of our God. 

You will eat the wealth of nations, 

And you will boast in their glory. Isaiah 61:6

It was the 6th July, during my time with the Lord, I was reading His holy word when He spoke to me this word to affirm and reconfirm His calling that He gave on 1st January 2003. I was attending the Summer Training in the USA and was given hospitality at a brother's house in Irvine, California when the Lord spoke to me again in a very specific way about His calling.

Surprisingly enough, the people that I have been shepherding have always like to address me as "Priest" or "Minister" or even "Pastor". Of course, these ones have not yet been fully brought into the church-life. Their understanding of someone who shepherds them is addressed as such. I do not mind being addressed as such, but deep within me, I feel uncomfortable because of the misuse of these titles by many Christians in the denomination. Though these are good, honorable, and respectable titles, I do not feel I deserve them. I always feel comfortable at being simply addressed as "Brother." That sounds sweet and peaceful, and I always prefer and love it that way.

This time around when I visited the USA again for the third time, the immigration officer at San Franciso Airport asked me this simple question as I was about to enter the USA, "Are you a Minister or a Priest?" I truly wondered what made her think that I am a Minister or a Priest. I was in a queue of many other immigrants and this question was asked to me. I was very hesitant to identify myself as a Minister or a Priest, and I always have, yet I had no choice but to reply to her. I answered, "Yes, something like that..."  Then, without any further question, she let me pass into the USA. In fact, the first time I entered the USA in 2016, two immigration officers at Los Angeles Airport asked me the same question with a further query on how I served the Lord in India.

In the eyes of the Lord, the Lord has called and chosen me to serve Him; though I always have the feeling that I don't deserve to serve the Lord full-time. It is His mercy that He called me, and by His grace, He qualified me, and I have been serving the Lord all these years. It is the faithfulness of the Lord whose faithfulness has become mine to be able to serve Him. When He spoke words as, "But you will be called the priests of Jehovah; People will speak of you as the ministers of our God" I simply bow my head in awesome wonder to God and thank Him for gracing me to serve Him.

In fact, whatever the Lord has spoken through His words have all been fulfilling; not once, but all the time. On the spiritual side, I have been called the priest of Jehovah or the ministers of God, at the same, "I am eating the wealth of nations, and am boasting in their glory." For the Lord have faithfully and richly been providing all my needs. Praise Him!

One fine morning a sister, who is the host of my hospitality in Irvine, asked me in the presence of his son who had been struggling to answer the Lord's call to serve full-time, "Brother, you have been serving the Lord for so many years now, do you have any lack financially?" My innate answer was, "No, never! The Lord meets all my needs in abundance!" Then she replied, "Praise the Lord!" I wondered why she asked me such an absurd question suddenly. A few days later, she told me she wanted to let her son know in reality that the Lord is faithful to supply all the needs of the full-time serving ones. That's why she asked me that question intentionally in the presence of his son. Then, I understood. And before I left her home to come back to India, her son, after much prayer and consideration, decided to serve the Lord full-time, and thanked us for being with their family for one week long to be a witness to him.  

Praise the Lord! The word of God is living and true! "But you will be called the priests of Jehovah; People will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, And you will boast in their glory." Isaiah 61:6

Shepherding: Care for the Needy

The past few days have been an intense exercise of my spirit to really consider and look to the Lord how to take care of a very needy brother. I was in dilemma as I would not want to succumb to my own goodness apart from the goodness of the Lord. I have had enough experiences of helping people, even very needy people, naturally. By my nature, since childhood, I have been trained to help the needy people, even at the cost of my own expense. And in that very act of "good deeds" I had eaten of the wrong tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Besides, I had also been "cheated" in some of the cases as people who knew me also knew they can easily get help from me, even financially. In addition, instead of really help the needy, I ended up spoiling them, making myself an easy prey, and putting them to the condemnation of their unrighteous deeds when they don't payback which they promised to. For these reasons, I have learned the lesson to be very very careful in helping the needy people.

Few weeks ago, I received an emergency message from a brother whom I knew a decade ago. On learning his urgent need, I had transferred Rs. 3500 from the offering that was routed through me for needy saints. A week later the same brother came and narrated his plight; he struggled to even pay his room rent for over three months. He had mentioned to me his problems again and again. But this time I wanted him to learn his lesson and I also wanted to learn my lesson as well. Having dully realised money is not his real need, I led him to trust the Lord and pray, which he did to my gladness.

From my end, I also prayed and looked to the Lord for His clear leading as to how to help him in the way that he really received the help he needed. Surprisingly enough, the Lord began to speak to me from my Bible reading from the book of Proverbs, everyday continuously for few days about the need to take care of the poor and needy people, especially the saints. Then I realised that I should indeed help in all possible way. With this clear cut leading from the Lord I fellowshipped with my wife and she felt that we should indeed help him but with the condition that he should also learn his lesson on money matters. Therefore, we decided to help him.

Meanwhile, because of his desperateness, he texted me that he could not sleep in the night, he was full of anxiety, he had no peace nor rest, he could not stay in his room as he did not pay his room rent, and he could not get a job either in spite of all his searching. At such a tough time in his life, he even contemplated taking his life, which he said, Jesus did not allow. He had been through a thorough dealing from the Lord as he confessed that it was indeed the Lord who touched him, awakening him from his long spiritual slumber to love the Lord and the church. For this, he also prayed overnight and would often go to a park to pray and read the word of God. I was especially glad to hear that he really looked to the Lord.

From his side and my side, we both experienced the Lord to receive and to give. Therefore, life lessons were learned, and our receiving and giving is purely and truly out of the Lord. As such, it is such a joy, peace, and thankfulness in our receiving and giving. Therefore, we helped with another Rs. 8,000,  with a note that he should payback once he can. Later, he texted me that this was indeed a timely help as the owner of his room locked his room due to non-payment of rent and was given the room key on payment of the Rs. 8000 we just lent him with. Our hearts actually was an offering, but to help in money matters we inserted a clause, payback when you can. 

Perhaps, this may be the best way to care for the needy saints. What a lesson! What a blessing!

Dubai: Memorable Blending

The day in Dubai was indeed a memorable day. Besides the baptism of a new sister on the first visit to Dubai on my first Lord's Table Meeting, the saints also took me for an outing to the biggest mall in the UAE, a view of the tallest building, and a love feast dinner. As we went out for outdoor blending, in a van I got to fellowship with all the saints as we drove, walk around the mall, and dined together. In all these, the Lord had planned a specific speaking for a brother.

A young brother has just came to Dubai for job about two weeks ago and has been with his uncle who is also a leading brother in the church. As we fellowshipped, the matter of full-time training came up. I released the general burden that has been in the church life for all the young people to be trained in truth, life, character, gospel, and ministry for two years as a preparation of our vessels for the Lord to fill, contain, and gain, and perhaps, become a dispensational instrument to be an overcomer to turn this age and bring the Lord back. The young brother got so touched and exclaimed in awe that the Lord's speaking was so sudden and he would definitely consider and pray. He confessed that he never thought about attending the training as he was fully geared up to get a job and start his career. Nevertheless, he was open to the Lord's leading.

As we all were taking a walk at the Dubai Mall, he kept enquiring more detail about the training. By the time we ate dinner, he became more clear that he should definitely consider to join the training. He began to understand that the Lord brought him and me to Dubai to let him know his need to join the training. And as we drove back after dinner, he opened up more, expressing his willingness to join the training. He began to consider the practical matters involved; first of all, what would his uncle feel. To that, my innate reply was, his uncle would be very happy to learn of young brother joining the training. On the family side, he also considered who would support him financially. To this, I told him, as long as he is willing to follow the Lord's leading, the Lord will take care of all the needs. And finally he confessed that he was shy to let his uncle know about his desire to join the training, to this I replied I would speak to his uncle. The next day, when his uncle and aunty dropped us to the Airport I mentioned the matter; we all prayed together for him. 

Two young brothers, two young sisters, two middle age sisters, and an elderly sister, were my companion for the time together in Dubai city tour. During our snack and dinner time, we all enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship. Especially for the young brothers and sisters, I encouraged them to learn the basic lesson of following the Lord's leading in every matter; be it their career, marriage, or whatever, the definite and specific leading of the Lord must be their guiding factor in their Christian life. As they all wanted to know my testimony, I also shared how the Lord led me step by step in every stage of my life. We all enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship.

After the wonderful evening of blending as they dropped me back to my hotel accommodation, they requested that I should visit them again in Dubai. Though my reply was, "Sure!" it's all in the Lord’s hand. May His will be done. 

On the following day of our departure, a brother and his wife drove us to the Airport. On the way, they expressed their thankfulness in visiting the church, and that it was very timely and the Lord’s speaking through all the fellowship was what they needed, especially with the young brothers and sisters. Then, we all prayed together for the church, for the new sister who got baptised, for the young brother who wanted to join the training, and also for the Lord to gain the local Arabs for his testimony. 

Lord, bless the church in Dubai. Lord, save and bless the Arabs.

Dubai: Memorable Churching

In fellowship with the brothers in Dubai and with the burden to blend with the saints in the church in Dubai the trip to USA via Dubai was planned with a 48 hours transit visa. The brothers gave us a star quality hospital in a hotel and took us around the city of Dubai and we enjoyed a blending dinner lovefeast Ina restaurant where the leading brothers wanted to hear our testimony of salvation and coming into the church life, which we joyfully did, much to their encouragement.

The following day of our arrival was a Friday which was the country's national holiday on which the saints met for the Lord's Table Meeting. We met at District 1 out of the 4 Districts, enjoyed the Lord's Table, and ministered to the saints on "Living in the Reality of the Body of Christ by Keeping the Principles of the Body."

After the lovefeast, a group of sister gathered around a table which I thought was a Sisters Fellowship. Later, one of sisters invited me to preach the gospel to one new sister who joined the meeting, which I willing did. As the gospel was preached using the word of God, expounding the mystery of human life, the new sister was so open. As I sensed the seriousness of the Spirit's move I led her to call upon the Lord's Name after the gospel preaching which she willing did, and led her to pray the sinner's prayer to receive the Lord Jesus by believing into Him. Generally, I stopped there in many other gospel preachings I had done. But to this sister, the leading continued further, and I expounded the Bible on baptism with relevant verses. She was like a simple lamb, so seeking, and therefore, I asked her if she would like to be baptised. To the surprise of everyone present there, she expressed her willingness. Then, the sisters in the church were so joyful and rushed to make the baptism tub with warm water ready. At that juncture, the leading brother in the church in Dubai just came back from dropping off the saints after the meeting. He was also surprised yet joyful. Then, we both baptised sister Rose. 

What a joy to the church, to the sister who was baptised, and also to me! May the Lord grace her to grow in grace and be shepherded in the church to be remaining fruit and functioning member in the Body of Christ. 

Our Attitude

A brother who is a retired ambassador of India was contacted in the church in Gurugram about a decade ago. Though he never came for the Lord's day meeting, we used to visit him for fellowship and home meeting. He belongs to the same state I originally am from, and he had gone back there. After few years he came back to Gurugram for a short visit and gave me a surprise call.

One Lord's day afternoon, the home meeting I was to attend was cancelled while on my way to the venue for the meeting. I was considering if I should visit some new ones nearby instead of going back home. Then I was reminded of this brother as he lived in the area I was then. I called him up to hear his joyful welcome and then visited him.

This brother is a Christian who loves the Lord and has been meeting with another Christian group. My experience with such brother is, "leave them alone, they are already believers; unless they are seeking for the truth and for fellowship on their initiation, I generally would not invest my time." Yet, as long as they are open, I would fellowship with them and minister the word of God. These days, due to the misunderstanding from our fellow believers who are not meeting with us, the general fellowship among us in the church life is, not to proselyte other believers into the church life. But if these fellows believers are open for fellowship, we must indeed fellowship with them, and feed them with the word of God. We should be open to learn from one another and maintain a good relationship with them. However, we should not have a hidden intention of bringing them into the church life, or to meet with us. We must leave this decision to their own discretion. Our burden should simply be to feed them, and minister Christ to the them. If by the Lord's mercy they see the same vision as we do, may the Lord lead them to the church life and let them take their own decision.

As I fellowshipped with this elderly brother, he was so happy and rejoiced at seeing me after many years. Out of joy, he presented to me the book he just released in Paite, my mother tongue, title translated verbatim, "Journey to the Holy Land-Jerusalem." He also expressed his need for help in his personal matters which I willing offered a helping hand in any way I could.

A week later I took two brothers and a sister and visited. It was then that I presented the truth concerning Christ and the church, using Ephesians 4. To believers, minister the truth. That was what I exactly did. Whether he will take the way of the church or not, our responsibility should be to minister the word of God with the revelation the Lord has blessed the ministry with.

When he was to leave the city to go back home, I offered him a drive to the Airport. In fact, he expressed that he needed a help. But on the day of his departure from the city, I had a scheduled board meeting. Therefore, I offered my car and requested one of the brothers to drive him to the Airport. In whatever was possible, I try to keep a good relation with all fellow Christians. After all, we are all children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ.

In a similar manner, two other new families have been under shepherding. Though they go to their own "churches" every week we meet with them for prayer, fellowship, and study of the word. As long as they are open, we fellowship with then and minster the word. The truth the Lord has blessed the ministry with, is for all the children of God. We must be open and broad hearted yet without any compromise on the truth. We must be inclusive in receiving all genuine believers and never be exclusive and sectarian. After all, we are all members of the same one universal Body of Christ. We must maintain a good relationship with all the children of God as much as possible and have a proper attitude towards all of them.

To this extend, we have printed and distributed to all the local churches, a book from DCP, "Booklet: Our Attitude Toward Fellow Believers," to educate the saints to have a proper attitude towards our fellow believers. May the Lord grace us all to have a proper attitude and fellowship with all Christians.

Laboring in Shepherding

Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much increase comes by the strength of the ox.
Proverbs 14:23 In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

These verses in the Bible were a shot in my arm as I read them yesterday. There has been much labor in taking care of the new ones. In all the cases, the Lord has been gracing me to pay the price to shepherd them. Shepherding comes with a price; even a heavy price. Time, money, and energy is involved. 

Of course, all shepherding will produce a result. The result is always a battle between God and Satan. The more the new ones are shepherded, the more they grow in life, the more their eyes are open, and the more the desire to blend with the saints in the church. But this produces conflict within their being; there is a struggle between their spirit and soul. The soul reasons and being captivated by Satan, confuse them. Yet their spirits being enlightened wants to take the way of the cross to come into the church life. This is a definite spiritual battle.

Many of the new ones I have been shepherding are struggling with this matter. Some families and saints have fully come into the church-life. Yet some are really struggling. On the one hand, they enjoy the shepherding through the word, yet on the other hand, they were bound in where they have been in their religious or social background. This is a genuine struggle.

Often, when I consider the situation of the new ones I have been shepherding, I used to question myself: Am I laboring in vain? Why haven't the new ones fully blend into the church life? Should I continue this shepherding? Or, am I being fooled? Yet on careful and detail analysis, I realized that the Lord is working on them, and also on me. I should not give up shepherding, at the same time, I should discern how much time I spent on them and how frequently. And list them on a priority basis, besides, raising up more saints to carry out the work of shepherding.

Looking at the result, quantitatively speaking, on how many of these ones have attended the Lord's Table Meeting regularly, I felt discouraged. Often, I graded the result of my service as "Zero." But the Lord reminded me with these verses, "much increase comes by the strength of the ox" and "In all labor there is profit." Therefore, with the grace of the Lord, I continue to labor on the new ones; keep feeding them without proselyting them. Whether they follow the way of the Lord's recovery or not, my responsibility is to keep feeding them. As they are being fed, my responsibility is fulfilled. And the Lord will lead them into the flock in His own time.

Lord, grace me to labor like an ox.

Family Time: Three Events

Three events that have transpired are noteworthy as it pertains to the experience of Christ in His humanity in my family life. The fine humanity of Christ is the perfect pattern for believers to follow; it is the mold to which I have to be molded in. I am learning to really take Christ as my pattern.

My children were just given a summer break. The weather is so hot here. The longing to spend a day playing in the cool water was quite justifiable. Their dream of playing in the water park became very reasonable. Therefore, I took them for an afternoon water play time. If not for the sake of my children I would have never visited such a theme park. Now that I am a father of three, my desire has to be aligned to their desires and dreams. As long as it within the peaceful feeling within and within my financial budget, I would love to take them around and enjoy spending time with them. That was what I just did; a day with the children in the water park. The quality fun-time spent was quite human and the family bonding became sweeter and more intimate. An enjoyable family time!     

My children were waiting for a family day out on the 6th of June as it was also our wedding anniversary. Though the plan was made, my beloved wife put a condition to the children that they need to follow a schedule and finished the tasks assigned to each one.  Alas, none of them followed the schedule nor fulfilled their assigned tasks which upset my wife. As a punishment, she wanted to change the plan. But sensing the mood of the family, I wanted all of them to be cheerful and happy despite the failed truce. To cheer all of them up, I used my authority as the father and decided to still accomplish the plan though the conditions were not met. Finally, everyone forgot all about what failures they had, instead, we all spent a joyful day of eating out, shopping, and spending wonderful family time together. On that day, I felt good to buy each of them the best school bag of their choice, which I did. Their happiness is my happiness. An enjoyable family time!

A family eye check-up was due for all of us. We all went to an eye specialist who we knew for a decade now. As she checked all of our eyes, my daughter was diagnosed with shortsightedness and we immediately got a spectacle for her. She got new eyesight with a brand new pair of glass. The reason for my wife's eyes irritation was also discovered as the glasses she wore had a .5 each difference in the glasses and her eyes.  The matter was rectified as well. And mine too, I needed a new glass and new one was ordered. The other two children have no eyesight issue. Even in this family medical check-up, we enjoyed blending together. A memorable event indeed. By the way, on my next visit to the eye specialist, I preached the gospel and led her to call on the name of the Lord. An enjoyable family time!

Praise the Lord for God's blessed family! May the Lord gain us all to be a God-man family and make us all useful and fruitful vessels, dispensational instruments, and living overcomers in this age!