Meetings in Shillong

On the 12th Dec, a brother and I arrived Shillong early morning after an overnight journey from Dimapur. A brother received us at the bus stand in Polo Ground. This time, a senior and leading brother was no longer there to receive us as he had gone to be with the Lord. But the Lord has raised up younger brothers to bear the responsibilities of the church.  After a few hours' rest, we attended the first combined Lord's Table Meeting of the church in Shillong after the pandemic. 

While on our way to Shillong, a brother and I were considering what to minister on the Lord's day meeting. I had no clue which specific burden we need to release. I told my brother that he should minister the word first and I would follow him and continue his burden. My only preparation was prayer and to follow my brother's burden. 

When my brother released the word on the need on abiding in the vine from John 15, the Lord gave me the burden to continue to minister on abiding in the Lord. On the practical subjective side, I continued to minister the need to treasure the presence of the Lord. The presence of the Lord was richly present with me as I ministered on the presence of the Lord. I also testified of how the Lord's presence led us in all our ministry journey.

In the second session, we ministered on the practical way to enjoy the Lord's presence through the Spirit and the word of God. I released my burden on helping the saints to read the Bible every day and gave an introduction to the Holy Bible, Recovery Version with footnotes. Thus our burden for the saints was released.

In the evening, we visited a brother's family whose father has been an ardent reader of the ministry books. In our fellowship we came to realize that he has been in touch with the present Chief Minister of Meghalaya and that he was being invited for a meeting. Therefore, we feel good to gift the Holy Bible, Recovery Version to the CM. A few days later, he indeed gifted the Bible with a brief introduction on the Recovery Version.

In the same night, we also visited a family whose father went to be with the Lord last year and with whom I had been in contact since the first time I came in touch with the saints in Shillong. In our fellowship, the translation of Rhema books into Khasi was considered and a sister was willing to pick up the burden and bring out the ministry books into Khasi.

In all these meetings, we enjoyed the Lord's rich presence and His timely speaking. May the Lord's hand follow His words and bless His testimony in Shillong.

Ministry of the Word Literature Journey: Nagaland, Kohima

“And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Rise up and go into Damascus, and there it will be told to you concerning all the things which have been appointed to you to do.” (Acts 22:10, RecVer)

Update: Day 4 (9 Dec 2021)

From Dimapur to Kohima, as we prayed and enjoyed the morning revival; this was the verse the Lord spoke to us. Rise up and go into Damascus(Dimapur/Kohima), and there it will be told to you concerning all the things which have been appointed to you to do.” We came to Kohima not knowing what to do actually, we came just following the inner anointing of the Lord.

Meeting Br. K---- and Br. T---------, two local brothers, was such a joy as we have been praying for this city. 

We could visit three Bible colleges where we were warmly welcomed by the Principals and Deans though we had no appointment. They gave us time to hear us out and even arranged meeting to address the Bible teachers and students. After every speaking, the responses we got were overwhelming. Each of them received the ministry literature and purchased the Holy Bible, Recovery Version.

Holy Bible, Recovery Version for the CM

In one Bible college, a student who approached us for the Bible happened to be one of the relatives of the then Chief Minister of Nagaland. Therefore, we deemed it best to gift the Holy Bible, Recovery Version to the CM through that student. In fact, while in Dimapur as we drove by the CM's house, we just wished that if such leader could get hold of the truths it would have been wonderful. The Lord even fulfilled our "little wish" right away and opened the door to fulfill that wish.

May the hand of God follow the word of God, the Bible, to the CM and all the cabinet ministers and the leaders of Nagaland!

May Ngaland indeed be for Christ and the church!

In the evening, we had a lighter moment of enjoying Kohima's festive carnival where we dined on traditional Naga meal with Br.T--------- in our midst.

Praise the Lord for all these sowings!

Pray for the Lord’s presence and His continual leading and speaking.

Update: Day 5 and 6 (10-11 Dec 2021)

The Lord led us to the key Christian groups and leaders in the city. Though we did not know any one before nor made an appointment, the leaders welcomed our walk-in visit. We could introduce the ministry literature to each one of them, the Angamis, Sumis, and other tribes leaders. Everyone of them received the ministry books for the English readers in their congregation and the Holy Bible, Recovery Version. One group ordered the entire set of Life-study for the church library. Our whole day was spent meeting different groups.

In the evening, Br. K---- and Br. K------- invited us for a dinner love feast at their home in Jotsoma where we enjoyed a delicious home cooked organic food. The Christian love and care was so shepherding especially in the land we have been praying for.  We were so shepherded even by Aunty's encouraging words and prayers for us. After sharing testimony and mass prayers we wind up the day's schedule, and the following day, we left the city with much joy and peace, trusting the Lord's hand for the follow-up of the "very little" we could do.

On our way back from Kohima to Dimapur, we dropped by another Bible college on a hill top where we met the Principal and some students. One Garo student was so interested in the ministry books, who also purchased it, and he happened to be from the same place as that of the present Chief Minister of Meghalaya. In a few month's time he will graduate from his MDiv studies and expressed his desire to serve together with us among the Garos in Tura.  May the Lord gain Him for His move among the Garos.

In Dimapur, we could also visit one more Bible college and a Christian group who both received the ministry literature readily. Wherever we went, whomever we met, the Lord just opened the people's heart for His move.

Finally, as our last visit, we visited Br.S--- and Sis. N----- for a short while fellowship; an ice breaking session, encouraging them to go on in the Lord and to fellowship with the saints regularly in Dimapur.

“And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who have been sanctified.” (Acts 20:32, RecVer) 

Ministry of the Word Literature Journey: Nagaland, Dimapur

Then in a pillar of cloud You led them by day, And in a pillar of fire by night, To light the way for them, On which they should go. Nehemiah 9:12

After over a year of prayer for the Lord's testimony in Nagaland with brothers and sisters from Nagaland who have been enjoying the ministry and came into the church life in different parts of the world where they were working, we have the leading from the Lord to visit Nagaland. Day to day updates are below:

Update: Day 1 (6 Dec 2021)

A young Pastor from Phek came all the way, a day's journey, just to meet us. We had a wonderful fellowship last night. He also brought along another church Secretary in Dimapur who was even more impressed by the truths and the riches in the ministry. They both took a lot of books for themselves and for introducing among the believers in their congregation. They also made arrangement for us to meet Bible colleges Principals and students.

A Christian leader in Dimapur also came to fellowship with us and invited us for more fellowship. He was so enlightened by the fellowship on the New Testament universal priesthood and the building up of the Body of Christ. He wished to come and meet us every night for fellowship as long as we are in Dimapur. 

We also had a time of prayer and planning for Dimapur and Kohima. 

Pray for the Lord’s presence and His continual leading and speaking.

Update: Day 2 (7 Dec 2021)

The President of a Baptist Bible college welcomed us to his college where we introduced the ministry literature. His immediate response was to purchase for himself and his college library. He also introduced his staffs and we introduced the ministry books to them as well.

In another Bible college, we were invited to minister the word and introduced the ministry books to all students and staffs. They were all so impressed with the content of the ministry we introduced, many students immediately purchased the Holy Bible Recovery Version in addition to the other ministry books they received.

We also spent time to fellowship with the principal and staffs of the college and prayed together.

A Christian leader invited us to fellowship with him. We were running out of time as we got stuck in the heavy Dimapur traffic. Initially we gave half an hour's time, but he was not satisfied, he wanted more time. We took leave from him to visit another Bible college and came back to fellowship with him and ate dinner.

Our whole day was spent fruitful. The Lord has been so faithful in leading us where to go, whom to meet, and what to speak.

Continue to pray for the Lord’s presence and His continual leading and speaking.

Update: Day 3 (8 Dec 2021)

The Lord led us to a Bible college where the Academic Dean showed undue favor to us and made an impromptu arrangement to address and minister to the entire college students. Besides introducing the ministry literature, we ministered the word on the importance of seeking God's will in every aspect of our Christian lives and the need to study the word in depth with careful consideration in prayer. 

After such a time with the students, they thronged our book table to get hold of the ministry books. All the books we loaded our SUV with, were emptied and sold out! We literally went out of stock and had to make another delivery, mostly of the Holy Bible, Recovery Version. 

Though we planned to visit more Bibles colleges, we got stuck up with just three, the big ones, as many students wanted to get the books and buy the Bibles. The staffs and teachers were so impressed with the depth of the truth we presented and showed their gratitude for our timely visit.

We also had a time with Br. M---n's family where we enjoyed a sumptuous Naga meal. 

A young pastor and a theologian came to visit us in the evening. After about an hour of fellowship on treasuring the presence of the Lord in our Christian life and ministry along with the ministry books introduction, he exclaimed that he began to understand and see what Christian life we should live and what testimony we should bear as a church. He, thus, would be regularly meeting with the brothers for truth pursuing and fellowship on a weekly basis. 

Praise the Lord for all these sowings! Awaiting its timely harvest now, for the Lord’s testimony in Dimapur!

Pray for the Lord’s presence and His continual leading and speaking.

Never Say No

Trusting the Lord in everything that is related to serving and functioning within my capacity, whenever there was an opportunity, I simply took it up by faith. My simple banner has been, "Never Say No," in the things of God. 

Whenever I was assigned for my portion in any spiritual activity, I took that as from the Lord. As much as I could, I never said no. If God had not ordained those functions for me, it would never have been brought to me either. Even if it were, it would hot have worked out. But in my experience, all those assignments given to me by the brothers turned out to be a great blessing to me personally besides being blessed in the assignments themselves.

Since the pandemic struck, there have been many online meetings for the churches and also for seekers all over India. Now and then, the brothers have asked me to coordinate in ministering the word of God to different states and language groups.  Whenever I was assigned, I always said amen to the brothers even if it seemed it might not work out. I firmly believe in the God who moved the brothers to make such an arrangement. I dared not say "No" to the brothers, which would mean saying "No" to God. Despite my condition whatsoever, the Lord's presence was with me all the time. This m, made me realize more that it was not I who functioned but it has always been God who has been ministering in my ministering. What a blessing, what a joy, when we amen God!

Even when I traveled for my official service of distributing the ministry literature, I still would not say "No". Somehow, I scheduled my time to still carry out my responsibility and thereby, continued to enjoy God's presence. I trust in the Lord that in the coming days too, the Lord will continue to grace me to never say "No" to His sovereign arrangements. I reckoned all the assignments as God's arrangement with His promised presence and blessing. And firmly believe in His words:

For as many promises of God as there are, in Him is the Yes; therefore also through Him is the Amen to God, for glory through us to God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

God's Presence - God Is

God's Presence

As a Christian, the spiritual fact is, I am in God and God is in me. My responsibility is to abide in God, remain in Him, and dwell in Him as my home. The issue of such a living in the divine Trinity is the presence of the Lord. 

In the Old Testament, Moses had the promise of God's presence going with him; he desired the presence of God to the extent that he would not do anything without the Lord's presence.

Now therefore if I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know now Your ways, that I may know You, so that I may continue to find favor in Your sight. Consider also that this nation is Your people. And He said, My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. And he said to Him, If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. Exodus 33:13-15

There definitely is a difference between God's going and God's presence. It is one thing to have God's blessing and Him doing many things for us yet without His presence. God's presence is His smile, His delight, His being one with us in everything and not merely He doing things for us or on our behalf. If one has God's presence, he definitely will also have God. Here is the thin line between God and God's presence. Many may be satisfied with the former, God's blessing and helping hands, but not God's presence, His smile, His will, and His delight in everything. To enjoy the joy of God's presence, the one key condition is to abide in Him, remain in Him, and dwell in Him as our home. 

God's presence is my need in everything. The children of God in the past were led by the presence of God in the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, which today is the presence of the Lord in the Spirit and the Word of God. These are the practical ways one can enjoy God's presence. While things are bright and normal, the Spirit typified by the cloud during the day is sufficient. Whereas when the situation is dark and negative, still the leading of the Lord can be felt through God's presence in the Word.  This is to live in the divine Trinity.

God Is

But without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to Him, for he who comes forward to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6

To believe that God is, is to believe that He is everything to us and that we are nothing—John 8:58; Eccl. 1:2. To believe that God is implies that we are not; He must be the only One, the unique One, in everything, and we must be nothing in everything—Heb. 11:5; Gen. 5:22-24.

As we enjoy God's presence, we must also realize who God is; not merely doctrinally only. God is everything, many confess that either religiously or out of fake humility. But to realize indeed that God is everything is yet another matter. The Lord has been merciful to help me realize that God is indeed everything and that I am nothing and I can do nothing.

In the past, I have used statements like, "God is everything, I am nothing." But deep within me, I still believe that I was still something and that I needed God when I needed His help. Which means, I still could do something of my own. That's why I was very jealous to labor for the Lord. Well, it must be good for me at that time to experience the Lord in such a way. In fact, that only ushered and brought me to the point of realization that, all that I thought I could do resulted only in failures and shame. Yes, I mean it. All that I could do with all my strength, even perhaps with the help of God, were just failures and shame. I had not experienced the death of my "self", my "natural man." There had been much mixture of myself with that of God.  Now, by the Lord's mercy, my eyes have been opened and I am beginning to see who I really am. I am NOTHING, and I mean it. GOD is EVERYTHING and I believe in it.

As I reconsidered my service in the church, one particular thing striking is, all that I thought I could do resulted only in failures. What I thought began well ended up nowhere, especially in taking care of some new ones. I could see clearly where I lagged behind; I need God to be everything in all things and that I am nothing, Therefore, I must believe that God is and I am not. Praise the Lord!

Experience of Christ: Banking

A need to open a new bank account was brought to my attention three weeks ago. Though I initially suggested that one of our existing accounts could handle the purpose, my coordinating brother felt the need to open a new one, to which I agreed. Therefore, I took immediate action to open a new current account in one of the banks where we already have a running current account. Due to an urgent need, I talked to the bank officer to speed up the process for which on the same afternoon all documents along with signatures were submitted at the bank itself. Therefore, we were promised that within a few days' time the account would be ready.

After a few days, I called up the bank officer only to get the response that he would be checking and updating. After repeated requests and delayed responses, I got a message saying that a name correction had to be done from the already existing account. For this, I went to the bank to submit a form for name correction; which error was also committed by the bank when it was first opened. Now, that became the reason for the delay. Then, after a few more days, I got a response from the bank that the name had been corrected, while calling up the bank for the new account as the correction had been done, he request a few more days to open the account. 

After a few more days, I followed up on the progress of the account only to hear a repeated request for a few more days. Therefore, each time I enquired I was promised that it will be done the same day evening or the next day. The repeated response went on and on until a full week was over. Then finally, I got a message stating that the old account had to be changed, creating more problems.

I had no choice but to go to the bank and talk to the manager directly. Even the manager promised that he would get the work done, and requested for a few more hours. I plainly told him to confirm if the bank could open an account without affecting the already existing account. Only with their answer, I could proceed to the next step. Finally, after much talk and waiting, the bank officer responded that they could not open the account at all. I felt like blasting them for their untrustworthy words and false promises and wasting three long weeks. But the Lord within me was very calm and at peace. In fact, I was reminded by the Lord to simply keep calm and accept the fact that it could not be opened. In fact, it need not be opened at all as the Lord has a better way of handling the need. 

When I fellowshipped with my coordinator about the current status of the account, we came to a conclusion that it need not be opened at all as the need could have been better handled in some other way. But for my part  I had done all the I could. The Lord confirmed within me that I had done what I need to do and the result was that the Lord has a better way. I was completely satisfied and at ease that I had discharged my responsibility and the Lord interfered to show us the better way.  

Through all these processes, I experienced the Lord in exercising faithfulness in carrying out my responsibility, trusting the Lord for the result. It would have been unfaithful to not do my part at all. I did my best and the Lord took over the result. No grudges to anyone, no complain, no murmuring, no reasoning, only the experience of the Lord in all these. Even in official banking works, the Lord could be experienced richly! Praise the Lord!

Fruitbearing: The Lord's Blessings

On the 24th of November, a brother called me up and fellowshipped that if he could bring over a new one who wanted to be baptized. Though I did not know who the new one was, trusting in my brother's word I amened his request. Later, the new one actually came with his wife. They were first met by my young brother with whom I have been coordinating in the young people meeting and in the gospel meeting. At the first meeting, the conversation to the new one was, "Jesus loves you!" at a birthday party when he was serving food. Later, this new one believed into the Lord and called up my brother for baptism.

As I met him, I felt the need to preach the gospel once again; to make sure that they truly believed into the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, using The Mystery of Human Life, I asked the new one to read paragraph by paragraph, and after each paragraph, I exercised my spirit to preach the gospel in Hindi along with my fellow brother. Therefore, after ascertaining that they really understood the gospel, and they did believe into the Lord Jesus Christ, I once again helped them to pray the sinners' prayer and led them to definitely receive the Lord Jesus again, calling upon His name several times too. Then, I explained the significance of baptism and asked them to decide for themselves. I wanted to make it very clear that I was only presenting the truth of the Bible, preaching the gospel, and letting them choose if they would receive the gospel and be baptized. The new one was definitely willing as he already believed into the Lord, and his wife also expressed her willingness to be baptized. Then, arrangements were made and we baptized both of them.

When the Holy Spirit convicts people, they simply repent, confess, and believe into the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. Man's only responsibility is to discern the move of the Holy Spirit and cooperate with him to carry what the Lord wants to accomplish. That's what we did; simply cooperating with the moving Triune God in saving people. 

Once they were baptized there was a sense of joy and peace within us and within them. They both were filled with peace and joy. Then I gifted them The Shepherding Materials in Hindi for them to read daily. My brother had purchased lunch for them as he had the burden. I did not interfere in inserting my own opinion as I could also provide lunch for all of them too. I wanted my brother to bear the burden and execute them with love and receive the blessing and gain the necessary experience in caring for the new ones. The new ones' needs were taken care and my brother also got to function. Praise the Lord! 

We have been praying for the salvation of people. Though we have not gone out to preach the gospel since the pandemic struck, still the Lord brought people at His time to receive Him and be baptized. It was purely the work of the Holy Spirit. With man this is a thing of impossibility; but with God, it is very possible. That's what we have been witnessing in the church in Gurugram. When the Lord gives, He gives. Praise the Lord!