Mizo Proofreading Preparation

Since the recovery of the church life in Aizawl, the Lord has been blessing the church in a marvelous way. Though the saints have been struggling spiritually and physically, the Lord has been faithful to supply all their needs and grace them on and on. Three sister have been consecrated to serve the lord full-time in the literature service, especially in the translation of the New Testament Recovery Version into Mizo. By the Lord's mercy, the translation has been completed and checking has been going on. The final proofreading work is due on January 2022. It is for this that I came to Aizawl to do the preparatory work.

On the 17th Dec after the prayer and fellowship with the core team for the proofreading work, I inspected all the work that needed to be done. We have done 90% of the work needed and a few things have to be finalized, which the serving one will accomplish them in the following days. By far, I am satisfied with the coordination and preparation.

In the evening we had dinner lovefeast for the volunteers. Then I had a time of fellowship with all those who registered for the proofreading work in Mizo. Three specific points the Lord burdened me to fellowship with them were:

Vision: Everyone need to have a clear vision of the need for the New Testament Recovery Version in Mizo which is for the sake of the Lord's move among the Mizo speaking people. When the Mizo Bible first came, it was for the evangelization or gospel preaching to the Mizos. Now, that most of them have become Christians, there is a need for growth and building of the believers with the proper and healthy teaching of the word of God. For this, there is a need for the accurately translated and properly interpreted word of God, the Recovery Version can meet this need.

Consecration: Having seen the vision, there is a need for the serving ones to consecrate themselves to carry out the vision. The children of Israel consecrated themselves for the building of the temple in Jerusalem because they knew it was for God's purpose and God also gave them a willing heart. Therefore, I called upon the saints to consecrate for the Lord's work and even pay the price to meet the Lord's need. This consecrate requires minimum two weeks of their time and be one with the serving ones to carry out the work.

Coordination: Finally, to practically carry out the Lord's work, there is a need for coordination. Otherwise the vision seen nor the consecration would yield no result. All the detail instructions have to be carried out as instructed just as the children of Israel built the temple as Jehovah instructed them.

After releasing these burdens, I gave time for any clarification, should there be any. Following this, I encouraged a leading brother and the translators to share words of encouragement, and then we concluded it with prayer.

May the Lord bless the proofreading exercise and bring out the New Testament Recovery Version in Mizo.

Brothers Fellowship In Shillong

For over a year, I have been praying with some brothers in the church in Shillong. The Lord has been faithful to begin to answer the prayers for the saints. This time, He arranged a time of fellowship with all the brothers in Shillong. Though the fellowship was planned I really did not know what to speak, how to lead, and what the burden of the fellowship should be. But I simply trusted in the Lord's presence who is the leading.

Once all the brothers came together, the Lord led me to begin the fellowship by prayer and hymns singing. We first sang Hymn 904.  Stanza four described best the very purpose of our visit to the brothers and the fellowship we had with them.

I dwell with the King for His work,

The work, it is His and not mine;

He plans and prepares it for me

And fills me with power divine.

So duty is changed to delight,

And prayer into praise as I sing;

I dwell with my King for His work

And work in the strength of my King.

Then, as we were about to finish the singing, the Lord led me to pray-read Bible verse together with all the brothers. So we pray-read Ephesians 4:

  1 I beseech you therefore, I, the prisoner in the Lord, to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

  2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, bearing one another in love,

  3 Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.

Then, we fellowshipped on the need to keep the oneness by being filled with God who is the oneness. The practical way to be filled with God is by being filled with the word who is spirit and life. And further ministered on John 17, the oneness in the name of God, through the word of God, and in the glory of God. We also encouraged the brothers to receive help from the ministry which can enable them to enjoy the word and build them up together.

Then, there were responses from the brothers about their enjoyment of the fellowship. I was very encouraged to hear the brothers' sharing on how much they have been helped by the fellowship and the ministry. Deep within me, I had the confirmation that the Lord has accomplished the very purpose for which they brought us to Shillong. Finally, we enjoyed singing together Hymn 1081 on John 17 which was followed by lovefeast dinner.

The burden this time has been released and the goal accomplished. Now, the Lord will work in the brothers and gain them all for His testimony!

Lord, bless the church in Shillong!

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!