Jesus is Lord!

“Therefore also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11, RecVer)

It was the 16th Oct night. I had just arrived Ujjain for the ministry of the word literature journey. My host is a brother in the Lord whom I first met in 2010 and whom the Lord graciously saved despite him being such an intelligent man, highly educated, and a Rajput. His mother is a strong devotee of many deities as apparent in her house, full of idols. But she welcomed me as she knew me through her son, who now has become a brother in Christ. She treated me with the best hospitality she could offer. I addressed her as aunty and with due respect testified to her of how I became a Christian and what made me do what I have been doing. In fact, the testimony was of her initiation as she wanted to know what made me become a Christian, in our friendly conversation.

Later in the night as I rested and slept, I had a strange dream. Not too sure if it was a dream or real. I was sleeping and felt the attack of Satan, making me numb in my whole body. I struggled for a while. My mind was fully awake, I could perceive things clearly in the room but could not move an inch physically. So I called upon the Lord’s name inwardly, over and over again. As I was struggling to move and yet still calling the Name of Jesus, another brother who was with me in the same room called out to me and enquired, "Brother Palmei, what happened?" I could not reply to his query. I struggled and struggled for a couple of minutes, still calling upon the Lord’s name, "Jesus is Lord!"

Then suddenly, all the invisible bonds broke loose, and I called out audibly, "Jesus is Lord!" Then I woke up, went to use the restroom, and slept again peacefully.

The following morning, as I prayed and considered what transpired the night before, I realized it was a spiritual attack on me personally. God knows what I am up to, and does Satan. Though Satan tried his best to stop me from serving the true and living God, he could not. At best, he could only bind me for a short while which in turn helped me to turn to God absolutely and desperately, and thereby won the victory in the name of Jesus Christ, the Victor! This was a sure sign that I am on the right path and Satan could not stop me in any way. I knew for sure that the path I tread with God will be victorious. For Jesus is Lord! Yes, Jesus is my Lord!

What a dream! What an experience! Jesus is Lord!

Do Not Withhold Good

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come back; And tomorrow I will give it— when you have it with you. Proverbs 3:27, 28

I have been blessed to pray with some young brothers in the church in Gururgam and a few other brothers in Delhi and NE. I reckon this as a blessing from the Lord to be able to pray with young brothers. It also helps me in my prayer life. In praying together, we are mutually helping one another to pray. By praying together they also opened up about their situation for prayer. 

One brother from Delhi has been very desperate in his prayer concerning his father being unable to pay his school fees. Due to the pandemic, lockdown, and economic crisis going on in the country, his father who is a cab drive and a daily wage earner has not be able to make enough money to pay his school fees. The school he was enrolled in had sent him a reminder and a warning to pay his fees by all means otherwise he would not be allowed to sit for the upcoming high school board exam.  When he brought this burden, we prayed for the Lord's provision. 

After the prayer, I had the burden to ask him a few more detail. In fact, they have not been paying the fee for the entire year, except the first installment. On further enquiring, he opened up that he needed to pay Rs. 56,000 which is a lot of money for a daily wage earner. I did not promise anything but encouraged the young brother to pray and learn to trust in the Lord, exercise his faith. I assured him that the Lord will definitely provide.

When the matter was brought up it was on a Thursday night prayer. On Saturday morning I felt it good to bring it to the local church brothers' fellowship for all the brothers to consider. But in the church brother's fellowship, it was felt that loaning such an amount at one go may not be a wise thing to do as this would set a trend among all the other saints too. Now that many are in need due to pandemics. Therefore, it was decided that an announcement be made to the saints on the Lord's day for the saints to offer for the needy saints, which then can be directed to those who need like this brother who had to pay his fee. Actually, that fellowship was very timely for the church and also for the education of the saints to care for the needy saints.

For the immediate need of the brother,, in fellowship, the brothers felt good for me to take care of now. Offerings for such needy ones will be used to reimburse back to clear up the loan. Therefore, I took the burden upon my shoulder, fellowshipped with my wife, and made arrangements to loan the said amount. The need was immediate and time-bound, as it had to be met by the following Monday. Therefore, on Monday the 4th of Oct, I made the transaction to the brother's account.

When the Lord placed me in a position to be able to help, I must not close my door. I must do all that I can to care for the needy saints. It is indeed a blessing to be able to help. Especially to see a young brother desperately praying to God to meet his need. As an encouragement to him in his trust in the Lord, and as a responsible brother who cares for the younger saints both spiritually and physically too, as much as the Lord provides, I have been graced to help.

After the help, he called up, and his father also called to say thank you. But I told them that it is the Lord's provision and that we all should thank the Lord together. This young brother has been so encouraged and his lips are now full of praises and thanksgiving whenever we pray. I felt that this itself is worth the little help. After all, everything we have is from the Lord! 

So, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come back; And tomorrow I will give it— when you have it with you". (Proverbs 3:27, 28)

Conscience Pure

Acts 23:1 And Paul, looking intently at the Sanhedrin, said, Men, brothers, I have conducted myself in all good conscience before God until this day.

Acts 24:16 Because of this I also exercise myself to always have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

The Lord has given me opportunity after opportunity to learn to exercise my conscience. These days, I have been blessed with elderly men with needed my help. To the best of my ability, I took time out to help them. In fact, both are retired Government officers of high ranking; one in the foreign ministry of India and the other in the state department of Haryana. The Lord has sovereignly brought me to contact with them. Despite being my father's age, they treated me like their "friend" and "son." And I am glad to render help in whatever way I can; in fact, I did best, whenever they requested help.

In a few cases, out of their gratitude for my assistance, they even wanted to offer me money which I outrightly denied. In some of the ways I help, there were also opportunities from my side to take advantage of them, if I wish to. But the Lord warned me to maintain a good conscience in all my dealings with them. I spent my time, my energy, and even my money for their sake. I took that as a blessing, learning to serve people. My intention was that their hearts would be touched, melted and that they would see, believe and receive the Christ that enables me to befriend them and help them. My only goal in helping was to somehow show the love of Christ to these friends of my father's age. In their case, I prefer to preach the gospel by my good deeds. Of course, I did not gag my mouth from preaching the gospel. I did preach the gospel a couple of times too to both of them when I felt it was alright to do so.

I continue to maintain my relationship with them as their friends or helpers and pray for them that they would experience the love of God and be saved, especially one of them who is an unbeliever. I learn from brother Paul and learning to be able to say, "I have conducted myself in all good conscience before God until this day."

The unbelieving friend has offered me his cow milk which I promised to pay as per his rate. Last week, I went to settle the milk fare I owed him. I decided to do at the beginning of each month and maintain a proper record of milk supply and payment made by me. I did this purposely not to give any ground to the enemy. Though he did not want such formality and asked me to simply give him whatever I felt good about. But I insisted that I should give him exactly what is due with a proper record. And in doing so I told him I did not do it for the sake of money, but for the sake of conscience. That touched him so much as I could see in his facial expression. Money matters must strictly be dealt with with utmost accuracy. It's for the Lord's testimony to touch his heart and let him see the true and living God in His believers. In this way, I can testify like Paul, "I also exercise myself to always have a conscience without offense toward God and men."

Praise the Lord for such opportunities to be able to exercise my conscience with all purity by His sure mercy and amazing grace! Lord, preserve my conscience pure. Amen.

Brothers' Visit

Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget hospitality, for through this some, without knowing it, have entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2

Last weekend, a brother from Mathura visited us here in Gurugram for fellowship and also for participating in the Lord's day meetings. I had visited him last month, accepting his invitation. The Lord has been preserving a good number of believers in Mathura for His testimony. As he was with us, it was my pleasure to serve him in the way I can. It was a good exercise for me. Giving hospitality to the saints is what I need to learn as I am not good at it. So I did my best to serve any guest the Lord would bring to our family.

The day he arrived last Friday, I also requested him to share his testimony in the online gospel meeting. It was such a blessing to hear his life's story and an encouragement to many new believers who joined the gospel meeting. On the Lord's day he participated in the bread-breaking meeting of the church in Gurugram; in fact, the first-ever for him to partake of the bread on the ground of oneness. He was so impressed. He even requested for the hymn in Hindi for him and the other brothers to learn to sing. Generally, new-seeking groups who are from charismatic backgrounds would stick to the "praise and worship" song and follow the local way of singing. But in his case, without us touching the way of worshipping God, he himself initiated to learn the proper way with the proper hymns. May the Lord lead him and all the believers to take the way where everybody functions for the building up of the Body of Christ.

A few days later, two brothers from the Christian group I used to be paid me a visit. With them too, I simply ministered whatever the Lord burdened me to. I respect them as fellow believers in Christ and gifted them some free Rhema books. This is how I am learning to give hospitality to others. 

Generally, I used to defend the truth whenever believers from other Christian groups fellowshipped with me. But this time, the Lord led me not to unnecessarily try to minister if the Lord Himself did not lead me so. I no longer depended on the knowledge I have but looked to the Lord for what to speak and how to speak. In this way, no room was given to the enemy.  This is an important lesson I have been learning through giving hospitality.

In the two visitations by brothers, I have been trained as a host to give hospitality to guests who could have been "angels" sent by God and also learn to let a brotherly continue among fellows Christians.

Praise the Lord for such brotherly visits!

Adieu Old Friend

On the 11th of October, one of our high school classmates died. In fact, the first one among the rest in his middle age. Though I was not very close to him, I served with him in the students' union; I was the President and he was the finance secretary of the SSPP when we were in Class IX at St. Mary's School, Tuibuang, CCPur, Manipur. As far as I know, his grandfather was the first person who translated the Bible into the Paite language. His demise was very unexpected yet not very surprising to me either.

When I got the information in our school WhatsApp group, my first thought was to remind the others who are alive about the importance of our lives while we are on this earth. I shared a gospel hymn that speaks volumes, Life at Best is Very Brief. And use this opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who may not yet have been saved.

Besides, I also send the following message as a reminder to all my classmates:

“Teach us then to number our days That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  (Psalms 90:12, RecVer)

As we mourn the demise of our beloved classmate, let us also consider the life we live on this earth today. All have to die one day, it's just a matter of time. 

When that day is yet to come, may we number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom; 

a heart that seeks God, 

a heart that loves God, 

a heart that believes into Jesus Christ and receives Him, and

a heart into whom Chrst makes His home.

That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, May be full of strength to apprehend with all the saints what the breadth and length and height and depth are, And to know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19, RecVer)

Imitating the apostle Paul, I was grasping any available opportunity to preach the word in season and out of season; whether by audible voice or readable text. The latter was most convenient in these days of social networking. Having preached the gospel message to the ones who are still alive, it's adieu to my old friend and office-bearer. Adieu, old friend... 

Pure Milk!

A few weeks ago I did my medical check-up and I was found to be Vitamin D deficient with a little high on bad cholesterol. This report was an alert to me to take care of my health. During the past two years of the pandemic, in order to boost my immune system, I ate a lot of food supposedly to fight against the attack of the virus. But this also resulted in gaining weight. I took the medical report as a message from the Lord to take care of my health when I can. Therefore, my lifestyle has changed and I adopted a new habit.

I felt best to take an afternoon walk under the Sun for receiving Vitamin D, for weight loss, and at the same time for listening to the Life-study program on the radio over the internet as I made the goal of reading through and listening to all the Life-study messages before the end of 2022. In this way, I could do triple works in one go. And I enjoyed doing it. The Lord also has been gracing me to do so.

On dieting, I have reduced my intake of white rice and significantly reduced my dinner. In fact, I have completely stopped consuming white rice for dinner and replaced it with Chapatti, a wheat-baked bread.  On top of that, I also felt the need for pure milk. There is no way I can get pure cow milk in the city. What all is available is company-packed pasteurized milk. But the Lord provided a gospel friend who rears cows for milk. One time he asked me if I wish to order milk from him. I felt that was also the Lord's provision, and therefore ordered two liters of milk every day.  Since this provision, I have been consuming pure milk at least twice a day. 

The Lord knows my need, in fact, my all-inclusive need. Spiritually, He is my need, and He also provides all the best physical needs my body requires too. In fact, this has been the first time in my life where I can enjoy pure milk every day! 

The Lord is the Supplier, I must look to Him for every need, be it physical, psychological, or spiritual. He does care for me and my family, and all His children. As much as I long for the guileless milk of the word and the solid food for the healthy teaching of the word of God, He also provided me with all my physical needs. Praise the Lord!

Our Online Meeting

Since the time a virtual reunion started via WhatsApp with my high school classmates, I have been having the thought and the burden to propose an online meeting. I have been waiting and waiting until I felt the leading of the Lord to finally propose it. It was on the 28th of September that I proposed to the group for such an online meeting. Only a few responded positively and one doubtfully replied that such meeting might not be feasible for the group. After a couple of days of waiting, I felt like this was not going to work out. However, I kept praying and committed the matter to the Lord. Then I proposed again for starting an online meeting. This time with more positive responses, and finally through one friend's post, I felt the confirmation to go ahead and start.

Well then, I had to plan the schedule; propose the date and time, and also tentatively suggest what need to be done in the meeting.  Later, I felt the peace to call for volunteers according to the gift and grace given by God to each one. For the opening prayer, testimony sharing, special songs, hymn singing, and the word of God followed by open sharing, prayer, and finally wind up with a  closing prayer. Since nobody volunteered, I myself proposed who should take part in what item as I felt the leading to do so. And later, it was confirmed.

Finally, on the 2nd of Oct at 8:30 PM Saturday night, we had our first online meeting after twenty-seven years! The Lord's presence was with us in our first meeting which I called, "OUR ONLINE MEETING". By the way, I bore the responsibility of creating Zoom link, making and sending invitations, and executing all the practical needs. Since it was the first meeting, I volunteered to host the meeting, I also ministered the word of God on "God's Plan", and also volunteered to pray for the prayer burdens. 

The entire meeting lasted for about an hour and was recorded. It was later uploaded online for all the members to view; the link was made available for one whole week. 

That was a spiritual battle I had to fight in prayer with some friends joining me. And now the group has decided to conduct such online meeting once a month, on every first Saturday of the month. 

In this way, through such an online meeting and through the sharing of messages in the group, I have been doing my best to minister the word of God to all my high school classmates. May the Lord continue to bless this little endeavor for the shepherding of my fellow high school Christians and save those who are yet to be saved.