Shepherding: A Brother's Family

Last Monday night, just before our family prayer at 9 PM, I opened my Facebook account and was shocked to read a message from a brother. This brother is the to whom I preached the gospel and baptized seventeen years ago and whose family I used to shepherd. His message expressed his grief over His mother who just had gone to be with the Lord. Sad news, but I got the timely message, well in time to shepherd him.

In fact, I have not been in touch with him for over a year as he is in Bangaluru, down south. Immediately, I felt the urgency to call him. I did call him and we had a conversation for about 13 minutes. It was a sudden demise of his beloved mother who seemed so healthy only to find her die so soon. Still, he was not able to understand and digest the fact. I comforted him over the phone and prayed with him and for his family as well. At least, in his hard times, I could contact him and be in touch again.

The Lord reminded me that I should have shepherded him more often. Now he has carved a niche in his career with a "Director" post in a private company. He has climbed up the ladder of his career quite fast. The good feeling I had was He still has the taste and tone of the ministry, as that was how he was spiritually shepherded from the very beginning of his spiritual journey. Only his family with a strong denominational tie could not really bring him into the full-fledged practice of the church life.  Now, the Lord has reconnected me with him again. 

As per his suggestions, I also spoke to his wife and also called his sister who was completely grief-stricken. I had no words but prayer, to comfort her as she traveled overnight from Bangalore to Chennai by a cab. 

Immediately in our family prayer, I brought this family's matter and prayed for them. May the Lord comfort them.

The following day, the Lord impressed me deeply to text them and comfort them. I had no word of my own. Therefore, I compiled relevant Bible verses together and texted them the following.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions and God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our affliction that we may be able to comfort those who are in every affliction through the comforting with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:2-4

1 Thessalonians 5:9-119. For God did not appoint us to wrath but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10. Who died for us in order that whether we watch or sleep, we may live together with Him. 11. Therefore comfort one another, and build up each one the other, even as you also do.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-1813. But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are sleeping, that you would not grieve even as also the rest who have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so also those who have fallen asleep through Jesus, God will bring with Him. 15. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep; 16. Because the Lord Himself, with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17. Then we who are living, who are left remaining, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will be always with the Lord. 18. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

This definitely is not a pleasant thing, but even in times like these, the Lord reminded me of the new ones whom I used to shepherd that I cannot give anyone up whatever their situation may be. Irrespective of our feelings toward one another, shepherding must still be there. How can a nursing mother forget her beloved children?  The Lord is opening my eyes to see the deeper matter and importance of shepherding. No matter what, I must continue to shepherd, and shepherd. Near or far, I must shepherd the spiritual children the Lord blessed me with. 

Lord, duplicate Your shepherding life into me.

Teaching for Building

A senior brother has asked me a couple of times a very striking question, "Do you know how to build up the local church?" The first time I heard this question, I was awestruck, not knowing how to answer. For, at that time I did not understand what "building up of the church mean." Then, he began to fellowship along the line of building up the local church using the word of God and giving testimonies of his own and many other brothers who are actually building up the local churches for the Body of Christ. He has been doing these a good number of times whenever he visited us in North India. What a blessing to have such a brother and learn from him!

Today morning, during the training, when he asked me brother asked me to share, I shared beginning with this very question. My answer was, "Yes," on the one hand, I know and I am learning how to build up the local church. Otherwise, I would not have been in the local church serving all these while. Yet, on the other hand, my answer is still "No," as I am not too sure if I am truly building up the church as I should according to God that I may pass the test in Matthew 7

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he who does the will of My Father who is in the heavens. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, was it not in Your name that we prophesied, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name did many works of power? And then I will declare to them: I never knew you. Depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness. Mattthew 7:21-23

The way to build up the church is by the word of God. Not the shallow doctrinal objective word, but the deep living subjective word of God. The New Testament believers, from the very beginning of the church life, has been teaching for building up of the Body of Christ. Teaching the word of God, ministering the word of God, ministering Christ as life is a crucial point in the practice for the building up of the church by the growth of the saints.

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the teaching and the fellowship of the apostles, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 6: 2 And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said, It is not fitting for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.

Therefore, there is a need for proper and healthy teaching of the word of God all the time. But, the question is, "Who can teach the word of God in the way of the apostles for the building up of the Body of Christ?"

The book of Colossians reveals the way.

Colossians 125 Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship of God, which was given to me for you, to complete the word of God,26 The mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations but now has been manifested to His saints;27 To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,28 Whom we announce, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man full-grown in Christ;

The word of God must discover Christ in the Bible when I read the Scripture. But this word of God is also Christ in my spirit as the Holy Spirit. When the Christ in my Spirit meets the Christ in the Bible, when the Holy Spirit and the word of God meets, the issue is life. Such life can minister life to others causing the growth in life for the building up of the Body of Christ. The word of God is also a mystery that is concerning Christ and the church, the Head and the Body, Who is in me. This discovered Christ through the word must be ministered in a way of announcing, admonishing, and teaching so that whoever has been taught would be presented full-grown in Christ. In this way, the church can be built up.

I must learn and be taught of the word of God properly with revelation that I may be constituted with Christ as life in me first and then be able to minister this very life to the saints. In this way, I can build up the local church, and in this way, I must build up the local church wherever the Lord has placed me. Therefore, with this basic learning, must with all good conscience be able to answer my brother's question if I were to be asked again.

Meanwhile, I must learn and teach, and teach and learn faithfully and build up the local church I am in, all for the building up of the Body of Christ. 

Lord, grace me, teach me, that I can teach for the growth of the saints.  

Gain Your Brother

In my shepherding of new ones I have been doing my best and yet I expect some result out of the labor and price I paid for. When my expectation of result is not forthcoming, then I kind-of get discouraged and started to filter them out one by one so as not to waste my time and energy. I have had this attitude recently as I felt I have labored enough and waited for a considerable number of years. At this juncture, the Lord came to rescue me through a brother's speaking. I should never give up on anyone and do my best to gain my brothers, including the new ones, the backsliding ones, and the black sheep.

In studying the characteristics of the kingdom life, to gain the people is crucial. In the kingdom living, I must gain my brothers. I should not let go of anyone so easily, come what may. The gospel of Mathew chapter 18 opened my eyes and I could see a very important lesson in this regard.

15 Moreover if your brother sins against you, go, reprove him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Go: First, I must go to visit a brother should he sin against me, much less offend me. I must care for my brother and reprove him in person.

Alone: If he indeed sins against me, the mater should just be between him and me. I must love and cover him up of all his mistakes, and I should in no way leaked the matter to any third person. Love covers all. This is a proper way of dealing with problems, especially with a sinning brother.

Gain: In this way, I must gain him by all means. All the shepherding is for the gaining of a brother.

16 But if he does not hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 19 Again, truly I say to you that if two of you are in harmony on earth concerning any matter for which they ask, it will be done for them from My Father who is in the heavens. 20 For where there are two or three gathered into My name, there am I in their midst.

Two or Three: If I could not succeed in gaining him by myself, I must take the way of the vital group in the principle of two or three. Hopefully, by this, he could be gained. Even otherwise, I still should not give up. Rather with my fellow vital group members, I must intercede for his recovery. Even pray a binding and losing prayer to release my brother from the bondage of the enemy.

17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to hear the church also, let him be to you just like the Gentile and the tax collector. 18 Truly I say to you, Whatever you bind on the earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on the earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

Tell him to the Church: Even if the two or three brothers' visitations to shepherd him does not work, I must bring the matter to the church that the whole church can intercede for him. I cannot afford to lose a brother and let the enemy has his food. By all means, a brother must be gained for the kingdom life, for the Body of Christ.

21 Then Peter came and said to Him, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? 22 Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, Up to seven times, but, Up to seventy times seven.

Forgive and forgive: No matter how many times a brother might have offended me, no matter how bad he may be, I must simply forgive and forgive. The reason is simple: to gain a brother.

The Lord's speaking in the way to gain a brother has totally blown my mind. It completely changed my concept and renewed my mind. I regret not knowing this truth before. I never understood Matthew chapter 18 in this light. I always read this chapter in expounding the truth about a local church doctrinally without caring for the brothers who constitute the local church.

This is the goal of a vital group, to gain a brother. This is also the kingdom life, to gain a brother. This is also the way to live an overcoming life by practicing the church-life, to gain a brother. 

Lord, gain me to gain my brother!

Proper Pattern

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, even as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.  1 Thessalonians 1:5 

This week I was very blessed to be able to attend the training of the full-time serving ones in India, online. The Lord's speaking through the speaking brothers were very timely and perfecting to me personally. Some crucial points are just too precious not to blog them as my personal record and study, and also a reminder for the future.

Concerning shepherding, a great new light has dawned on me. The only unique Shepherd is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Today, He has incorporated His heavenly ministry with His earthly ministry of His disciples. He as the Shepherd has duplicated and reproduced Himself into many shepherds; I am glad I am one of them. As a shepherd, I must be shepherded by Christ the Shepherd, so that I can in turn shepherd others with Christ my Shepherd whom I have been enjoying. The gospel of John chapters 10 and 21 reveals to us about the Shepherd and the many shepherds. On the one hand, I am a sheep being shepherded by the Shepherd and on the other hand, I am also a shepherd shepherding other sheep. This is a mutual shepherding. I need both and the Lord needs both too.

In the New Testament, the best way to shepherd is by giving the sheep the proper pattern. The pattern of the Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul are proper patterns of shepherding the sheep with their very life.

The apostle Paul is a pattern of shepherding the saints in cooperation with Christ’s

shepherding in His heavenly ministry. ─ "Even as you know what kind of men we

were among you for your sake” ─ 1 Thes 1:5b; Heb. 13:20-21; 7:25-26; 1 Tim. 1:16; 2

Cor. 1:3-4; Acts 20:20 :

1. The best way to shepherd people, to cherish and nourish them, is to give them a

proper pattern; Paul fed his spiritual children with his own living of Christ—1

Thes. 2:1-12; 2 Cor. 1:23-2:24; 11:28-29; 1 Cor. 9:22; Acts 20:28.

2. Paul shepherded the saints as a nursing mother and an exhorting father—1 Thes.

2:7-8, 11-12

3. Paul shepherded the saints in Ephesus by teaching them “publicly and from

house to house” (Acts 20:20) and by admonishing each one of the saints with

tears even for as long as three years (vv. 31, 19), declaring to them all the counsel

of God (v. 27).

4. Paul had been enlarged in his heart to have the intimate concern of the

ministering life—2 Cor. 7:2-3; 1 Thes. 2:8; Phil. 2:19-20.

5. Paul came down to the weak ones’ level so that he could gain them—2 Cor.

11:28-29; 1 Cor. 9:22; cf. Matt. 12:20.

6. As a lover of the church in oneness with the church-loving Christ, Paul was

willing to spend what he had, referring to his possessions, and to spend what he

was, referring to his being, for the sake of the saints in order to build up the Body

of Christ—Eph. 5:25; 2 Cor. 12:15; 11:28-29.

7. He was a drink offering, one with Christ as the wine producer, sacrificing himself

for others enjoyment of Christ—Phil. 2:17; Judg. 9:13; Eph. 3:2.

8. Paul indicated in his teaching that the church is a home to raise up people, a

hospital to heal and recover them, and a school to teach and edify them—Eph.

2:19; 1 Thes 5:14; 1 Cor 14:31.

Besides these, a brother gave testimony of a shepherd in shepherding a sheep with his tears was very touching. The sheep, a young brother, who has been a church kid all his life and was in a brothers' home decided to leave the home. A brother who oversee the home did not know how to take of this brother who wanted to leave. Truth wise, the young brother has already known much, and experience-wise, he has been in the church-life. He really did not know how to shepherd him. But out of deep and intimate concern, before the young brother left the home, he hugged and wept for him with affectionate tears. That tears moved the young brother and he was shepherded. Therefore, he continued to stay in the brothers' home and later became very useful to the Lord. And now he is one of the elders in the church in Taipei.

This testimony confirmed to me the need for a proper pattern in shepherding the saints, especially the young ones, now that I am shepherding the young people. 

May the Lord's shepherding love be my love in caring for the saints that I may be a proper pattern shepherding the saints with my own life of living Christ!

Testimonies of Saints

The gospel meeting of the church in Gurugram has  been conducted weekly for months altogether now. We have been praying and inviting our contacts to come hear the gospel message online. For evey regular meeting we have, at least two saints give testimonies of their salvation. In this way, many saints got the opportunity to exercise and function in the gospel meeting.

Surely, by the Lord's mercy, some of the saints the Lord has been gracing me to shepherd have now all become shepherds themselves. Today we are coworkers in the Lord's vineyard. Shepherding truly works. It takes time, much prayer and patience, and labour over a period of time, even over a decade. The Lord shepherded me in shepherding these ones and now I could see them functioning. In some cases, they function much better than me. O what a delight and joy to see the saints functioning especially those whom I laboured on them for years.

Tonight, two brothers gave their testimonies. One them had even cause trouble to me at one point of time. Praise the Lord! Prayer and shepherding works! In fact they are my prayer partners  these days as we pray together almost every night. There are some sisters too who have been shepherded and are doing exactly the same thing I have done to them in my shepherding. Sometimes, in my eagerness to see fast result I often get discouraged at the new ones I have been shepherding. But all the prayer and labour poured upon them truly worth the price. What a joy to me when I see them functioning!

I take  no pride in any of these. I am simply declaring the fact of the Lord's shepherding pattern that I learnt from. May the Lord raise up more and more shepherd to produce even more shepherd. In this way, the Body is being built up and also gain the increase.

The burden these days is also on the matter of universal and mutual shepherding for the building up of the Body of Christ. The past few days we have been under the training for the full-time serving ones and the main burden is also shepherding. The result of such shepherding is manifested in life and in times like this, has been clearly visible as testimonies. The Lord will continue to grace me on and many more testimonies will come forth.

Shepherding is the way to accomplish God's goal, and testimonies will testify of the same.

. 

Monthly Classmates Fellowship

Last Saturday we had our secondth monthly prayer meet with my fellow classmates, MCC MCA class of 2000. As it was a burden driven fellowship, the Lord took charge of all practical arrangements. He gave me the burden and He also gave me the grace to carry out the burden. He also gave me brothers to coordinate with. And also burden some classmates to fellowship together, though just a handful.

In the first meeting, the Lord burdened me to share my life's testimony,  and in the second meeting, He led me to share the meaning of human life. It's always best to begin with the beginning of the Bible and with the basic foundation of the Christian life. So when it was my turn to minister, I ministered the truth concerning the meaning of human life beginning with the plan of God in His creation of man with three parts and Him being the Spirit. The key Bible verses quoted were Genesis 1:26; 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 4:24, and 2 Timothy 4:22. The word of the Lord just flowed out of my being as I took the "Bible Study."

As I released my burden, I encouraged all present in the online meeting to share as well, making it mutual, interactive, and organic. To my surprise, every one shared too, and some did so with much conviction and even with tears. This has indeed been the timely need of all my fellow classmates. Nothing but the Lord can meet our deepest longing. For this purpose, the fellowship was initiated. And the Lord will grace us on and on.

I also expressed my twofold burden: for fellowship with fellow believers in Christ and for the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ unto the salvation of all my classmates. Added to this, was a word of encouragement to walk the narrow path when God's purpose is touched, as not many will take the way. Nevertheless, we must walk the narrow way that leads to life as in Matthew 7:13-14.

Enter in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it.Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it. 

The word of God ministered, the fellowship we shared, and the prayer we offered were so joyous and it was truly worth the time and energy spent! May God continue to grace us for this monthly fellowship unto the fulfillment of the two fold burden He Himself bestowed upon me.

Lord, save my classmates! Lord, bless my classmates!

My Niece

Five years have elapsed since my niece came to stay with me and my family in Gurugram for her further education after her high school and for her spiritual progress in the church life. Time flies indeed. She was a kid when I played with her when I visited my home as I prepared to serve the Lord full-time. 

My niece is so precious to me though I did not express it outwardly as her father had left her few months after she was born. It was a sad sad thing for my elder sister to be widowed at such a young age. Nevertheless, the Lord caused all things to work together for good, and that, to her salvation. Since such a tragic incident, she has been loving the Lord so much beyond my human understanding of her. I can say this because we grew up together most of the time fighting during our childhood. Temperament-wise, my elder sister was not my type at all, in fact, she was an opposite character to me. But as a sibling, the natural bond has ever remained intact. And it grew the more sweeter and dearer after my salvation and much more after her salvation too. Now we are wonderful brother and sister in the Lord!

I had never imagined that I could be of any help to my sister when she opposed me in almost every important decision I made in my life. From education to career choice to marriage and many family-related decisions. She somehow has had her opinion voiced and opposed me. But I never heeded her voice as I was very confirmed in my life's decision taken with much prayer and peace within from the Lord. And down the line, she became clear of all my life's decisions too. Though she is older than me in physical age, I bet not in spiritual matters. The Lord is my witness. And now she is so precious to me; she has changed and transformed a lot after much breaking and dealing from the Lord. Praise God that I have been graced to be a guardian to her daughter, my beloved niece!

My niece has just completed her graduation study in Delhi University, honors in English literature after her two years of higher secondary education in Gurugram. All this while she has been a daughter to me, and even more a sister in the church life. To my level best, I have shepherded her in deed as we enjoy a family life together with my children lovingly addressing her as "appi," meaning, elder sister in Rongmei dialect, my "father-tongue". The warmth of a family life has cherished her in our stay together for five years which zipped by in a blink of an eye. She has passed out of college life so fast. Time indeed flies.

One of my prayer points for her has been that she should join the full-time training in New Training for two years after her college degree. I did not express it to her until she was in her final year of college, this year. This has been my desire for my niece and for all my children too, and for all the young people in the church life. Since the Lord graced me to serve the young people beginning this year, one of the burdens I placed before the Lord is that all the young people I serve should eventually go through the full-time training gradually. That too, beginning with my own family, my niece, the best and first candidate. The Lord has faithfully answered my prayer and fulfilled my burden.

Last Saturday, our whole family dropped her to the training center with much joy and thanksgiving to the Lord. To me, this is more glorious than any worldly achievement. For God's economy has captured me, now all my life and service is all for the Body of Christ as much as I am for the Body of Christ, and much more. Now, I pray that the Lord would grace her to enjoy the training and perfect her to become a useful and functioning member in the Body, to become even a pillar to bear the Lord's testimony and be a living lover of Christ and an overcomer. May the Lord grant this wish I have for my beloved and precious niece! I deem this as the best I could wish and pray for my niece. 

On the academic front, if the Lord so leads, after the training, she may continue her further studies and get a Ph.D. degree, get married to a brother in the church life, and serve the Lord all the days of her life. I would desire this for my own children as much as for my niece. This is just my human desire for the young generation, but the Lord's will be done. The Lord's will  may supersede all my desires. Though I have the freedom to express my desire, the Lord's will is supreme. And amen to the Lord's will should it cross my will in anyway at any point in time. The Lord's will be done.

Lord, grace my niece! Lord, bless my niece! Amen!