Prayer for the Lord's Move

Prayer has been an important subject in a Christian life and church life. Today I am freshly supplied with the Lord’s timely speaking again with a view of the Lord’s move in the Body and the significance of prayer. I am convicted of my need to strengthen my prayer life.

The Lord's Move in the Body

These days I have been under the Lord’s speaking in the Full-timers' Training. Point by point, the Lord has been blessing me with His speaking.

A Joyful Baptism!

Last Tuesday I received a phone call from a sister that she would bring a new lady to the meeting hall and that I should be available to meet her. Though I had official works, I made myself available giving priority to what was more urgent. 

A young, smart, and intelligent lady came and I initially talked with her on the subject of her profession and interest. As I could see, she was so happy to discuss the matter that she really liked, her job, her education, and her family matters. After the friendly talk, I felt the need to change the topic and let her hear the gospel. So I preached the gospel in a very simple way using the mystery of human life.

Upon hearing the gospel, she started narrating her encounter with the name Jesus, and how she blindly believed into the Lord Jesus and prayed to Him regularly though she herself was from a Hindu Brahmain background. I was taken aback to hear her testify of her experiences of the Lord Jesus Christ. She made a bold statement, "Jesus is God!" She went on further to confess her faith in Jesus and the comfort and joy she received in praying to Jesus. In fact, she wore a crucifix on her left hand and testified that she have a strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and pray to him regularly.

Still to help her properly, I led her to pray the sinner's prayer and strengthened her faith in the Lord. Observing her real condition, I left that she needed to know the truth about baptism. To my surprise again, she proclaimed that she has been waiting for the day to be baptised. Well then, I told her that if she should desire or choose to, we could help her. She joyfully exclaimed that she wanted to be baptised. So we baptised her. O what a joy to lead people to baptism when they joyfully long for it! Praise the Lord!

This sister has indeed been prepared by the Lord. The Holy Spirit has already been operating in her. It was the ripe time that she came and that she was baptised. She has been joyful through out our fellowship. No wonder, she joyfully took baptism and even became more joyful!

May the Lord preserve her joy and that she be shepherded and grow continually. I gifted her the Shepherding Material and The New Testament, Recovery Version as I could perceive her capacity to receive the word of God. Amen.

An SOS Call

A brother called me up last week out of the blue. Though I was busy with my office work, I felt the need to receive his call. I obliged to the request he made for fellowship. So, he began to open up his personal matters and said that I was the one he felt free to open up to.

For the first half hour or so, he narrated his ordeals of his helplessness in many practical matters of his life. Despite being a medical doctor with Master's degree he could not find any job. In fact, he lost his job due to the pandemic. Since then, he has been jobless and became hopeless. He has been through verbal insult from his own father and opposition from his own wife in many aspects, just because he was jobless. He has been warned of the church life and the reading of the ministry books even by his own wife. On top of that, he also lost his mother during the pandemic. All these added to his woes and worries. So only he called me up for fellowship.

After listening patiently to all he had to say, I could sense his problem. Therefore, I fellowship with him of his need for a proper Christian living. He is a dear brother whom I have known for years. So, I told him to take my words seriously and as before the Lord. I told him, "You are the problem!" Initially, he was shocked to hear my frank statement. But then he realized the truth behind my statement. And I pointed out to him some basic points he neglected in his life. No wonder, he was in that helpless and hopeless state.

To start with, I charged him to first spend time with the Lord daily. Yes, even to set specific time to pray daily and count the length of time spent on prayer. Then, I also charged him to read the Bible every day without fail. And finally, I also charged him to pray with his wife daily. All these three practical points he agreed to do, and that he should report to me initially. In fact, he tried and reported to me the following days. 

My only intention was to shepherd him for his own good. And I did so in his own initiation to call me up for help. I was just being responsible to help a brother in need. In fact, he also started joining the online meetings of the church in Gurugram as there has been no meeting since pandemic started in his locality. At least, in this way, my brother can be restored of his spiritual function and be recovered into the fellowship of the Body of Christ which he lost for many years.

That was an SOS call from a dear brother and my sincere and simply fellowship. May the Lord fully restore and recover him for His testimony in Ludhiana where the testimony of Jesus seems to have waned due to the unfaithfulness of certain leading ones and their impure hearts. 

An Unexpected Baptism

A new one was brought to the meeting two weeks ago on the Lord’s day. She was on a friendly chat while I was busy with the young people meeting. Then, the young people gospel meeting followed, which she also joined. Then I felt the burden to preach the gospel to her. So we had a small group gospel meeting.

As I preached the gospel, I was led to narrate the pathetic situation of people today. How helpless man has been because of the sinful nature of Satan being infected into man. Despite being wealthy and famous, many high class people are living in a desperate condition. Some, not knowing the solution to their problems took the short cut of suicide. Some, taming their troubled mind by consulting a psychiatrist and living by pills to ease their anxious mind. While I discoursed on the practical problems, that new lady was so convicted. She immediately confessed that she was such a one and that she really needed help. My help was simple, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Jesus saves and only Jesus can save.

Then, I offered her the way to receive the Lord if she should choose to receive. I made it very clear that the choice was hers. I only showed her the way out of her present problem. She readily obliged to receive my help. So I led her to pray the sinner's prayer of repentance, confession, and believing into the Lord Jesus Christ. She willingly did according to her own will.

Then, I felt the further need to help her with the full gospel of believing and baptism based on Mark 16:16 and explained to her the importance of baptism. But I left the choice to her and never expected that she should choose to take baptism immediately.

After hearing me speak all this while, she asked a blunt question, "Do you trust people easily? Should people deceive you for their gain, shouldn't you be scared?" My reply was simple and plain. I relied, "Whoever the Lord brought to meet me in the meeting hall of the church or my home or office, I take it as from the Lord. There are thousands and millions of people outside, but only few, in fact, just a handful were brought to me. To such, I have full trust, no matter who they are and what their intentions may be." This reply took her by surprise and her trust in my words grew as I could read from her face. Later, as a sister asked her about what she had heard and about baptism, she decided to be baptised. And we baptised her! Praise the Lord!

This was a very unexpected salvation and baptism. God forgive me if I stated this wrongly. But I really meant it. It was very unexpected, at least to my feeling. Because she had been to many religious and superstitious beliefs and practices. I naturally thought that she would need more time to consider her baptism. But the Lord’s salvation is powerful. She was fully subdue and convinced to be baptised. It was the Lord’s work of salvation. Praise the Lord! I dare not hinder the Lord’s move in a person. So, the baptism was unexpected yet the Lord made it happen. It is indeed the Lord’s desire for all men to be saved! So it was.

1 Timothy 2:3-7

3. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God, 

4. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. 

5. For there is one God and one Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 

6. Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to be borne in its own times. 

7. For which I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I speak the truth; I do not lie), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 

Live-in Relationship?

A couple was contacted by the saints and started coming to attend the Lord’s table meeting and other regular meetings of the church, as they are already believers. Yet, they have not been living the normal Christian life for years. So, having realized the seriousness of relationship between male and female who are not yet married, as responsible brothers, we decided to help the couple and shepherd them for their going on in their Christian life and church life. As they were being shepherded, it was brought to my notice about their joblessness and financial difficulties clubbed together with the live-in relationship they have been in for a couple of months now. In fellowship we, brothers, felt good to shepherd them in a very practical way.

First, we decided to help meet their basic need for essential items, especially, food. So we offered Rs.5000 which can last for a month for their food. Due to the present pandemic, they have been jobless for months and complete broke. The church responsibility is to take care of the needy ones, believers and unbelievers within our capcity. 

Second, we went to fellowship with the couple and shepherded them in a way of revealing to them the proper relationship to be maintained between male and female. Yes, they are boy friend and girl friend living together which is very common in a metropolitan society. And in fact, this has been an acceptable norm in this evil and sinful generation. But the word of God cannot be compromised. So we fellowshipped with them and offered to help them to legally get married and be a proper testimony in the church. While fellowshipping all these, never we did in a way of accusation though we condemn the immorality, we would rather shepherd the ones involved in it, to sin no more. However, we did not impose anything legally but gave them the opportunity to make their decision based on the truth of the Bible.

I personally am glad to come across such case, as I must learn in coordination with my brothers how to shepherd new ones with such background. As we spoke to them, we also showed them the way for them to grow in life, to enjoy the word of God, to pursue the truth, to learn to practice morning revival, to pray, to be in fellowship with the saints, and to be blended in the Body. The church is a home for the spiritually homeless, a school for spiritual education, and also a hospital for spiritual healing. With love and care, and yet with the reverential fear of the holy and righteous God, the new ones have to be shepherded. And that's the lesson I have been learning.

This indicent reminds me of John 8

John 8:3-11

3. And the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, 

4. They said to Him, Teacher, this woman has been caught committing adultery, in the very act. 

5. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do You say? 

6. But they said this to tempt Him, so that they might have reason to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote with His finger on the ground. 

7. But when they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. 

8. And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 

9. And when they heard that, they went out one by one, beginning with the older ones. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman stood where she was, in the midst. 

10. And Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? 

11. And she said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more. 

It is easy to religiously fall into the trap of Satan when new ones with such sinful background would be brought into the church. Without knowing the Lord in a very experiential way, it is tempting to fall into moral ground and apply the comandment of God legally. Yes, sin must be condemned, but sinners must be loved and shepherded. This is a precious lesson in shepherding the saints while bearing responsibilities in a local church.

1 Timothy 1:15

Faithful is the word and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. 

The Lord's heart has always been to save sinners.

Mark 2:17

And when Jesus heard this, He said to them, Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are ill; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. 

May the Lord shepherd this couple and gain them!

First Home Meeting in Coonoor

Today being Lord’s day I attended the church service where my brother and their family members have been meeting with for decades. Though it was a very traditional religious meeting in Tamil, I still chose to attend it as I felt necessary at least to meet with the believers on the Lord’s day. I always do my best to attend the meeting especially on the Lord’s day wherever I travel. If there was no local church raised up yet, I chose any Christian group where I could attend, whether invited or not. All the children of God,  irrespective of their denominations, are my brothers and sisters in the Lord. They all meet and do things as per the vision and revelation they have seen. Only if the Lord allows me to minister I would most gladly do it, otherwise, I simply maintain the relationship in Christ and extend a welcome hand of fellowship to all children of God. 

In the meeting as I entered, I saw a notice commanding, "Switch Off Mobile". My conscience touched me to obey the command that I willingly submit myself to. And also I listened to the Tamil message though I did not understand it at all. I willingly came to attend the meeting and I must submit to the authority I entered into. There is authority everywhere, and as a child of God I must respect God appointed authority. I faithfully followed the order of service during the meeting though I understood hardly anything. It was my rightful duty to submit. They have done their best according to what they have understood, and since I willingly came ot attend their meeting, I must also willingly submit to all the decorum of the group. What a lesson the Lord taught me! Though I did not understand the Tamil message, the Lord taught me a very important message.

After the meeting I willingly went to my brother's home for more fellowship though not planned at all. It turned out to be the best thing I could have done. I and my brother's father fellowshiped on some very urgent and practical matters: Being revived everyday through calling on the Lord’s name, spending time with the Lord and prayer, and studying the word of God and fellowship. The family with whom I fellowshiped were so supplied. I could foresee this as the beginning of the church life in Coonoor.

A brother asked me a very practical question on how to overcoming an addiction which has been practiced for decades. My simple fellowship was to take care of the intake of the Lord as his daily spiritual food which will energize him and make him grow to overcome the addiction. He was so enlightened by this fellowship. In fact, this is what I learned from years of experience too. Only the Lord is the Overcomer and only by eating Him we can be constituted with His life and nature to be an overcomer. I appreciate his frankness in asking me this question and the fellowship was so sweet.

Later, we had a family time together where I fellowshipped on being revived everyday and the need to grow in life. All the rest will follow suit as a result of our growth in life. Then, we sang Tamil songs and prayed together. It was a sweet and wonderful time of fellowship. I see this as the beginning of the practical church life in Coonoor.

Praise the Lord!