Proofreading: A Spiritual Battle

The proofreading work of the New Testament Recovery Version in four Indian languages has been a battleground for fighting a spiritual battle all along. The saints all over the world have been faithfully praying for this too. We, on the battle field, have been facing the direct frontal attack of the enemy. Tried however much he might, Satan is the defeated foe and Christ is the victorious Jesus General. And we are the army of our Victor Jesus Christ!

The peak of the battle as I understood was in the second week when many saints have fallen sick with few serious cases. But within a day or two, all have been recovered. In fact, the first to be touched was myself among five of us who were coordinating. I was down for two days. Then all the other four serving ones with me became ill one after the other. In fact, one of them negatively tested positive for a viral flu that has been spreading disastrously, of course with self test and not clinical. Therefore, to avoid further spread, we quarantined whoever fell sick. During the peak of the attack I had been busy caring for the sick, for their medicine supply and food supply as well. For one entire week I had the honor of serving some of the saints in coordination, with three meals a day. It was a privilege to me, and I joyfully served them. It was for this need that I had to cancel my week-long home visit in between the project. 

Though the outward pressure was high, deep within I enjoyed the presence of the Lord. I felt the Lord leading me step by step in every minute detail. Not one bit I had a doubt that we would not make it to the end. To me, the trials were testaments to the genuineness of the work we were involved in; the work of God, therefore, the enemy's attack was just obvious.

As the battle was fought, a misbehavior of a serving sister added to an emotional attack as she had to be sent home after the first stage of the project. Another serving sister was diagnosed with TB, and yet another sister was diagnosed with cancer on careful investigationof her past medical report. Mysteriously, a brother was literally immovable as he has sudden body pain. He was on bed rest for about three days. Even doctors could not diagnose the root cause of the problem. The only way out was just prayer and a brother's foot therapy that eventually healed him. Inspite of all these, the Lord led us through from stage to stage. Christ has been experienced as the Victor in every minute detail. We were on a heavenly team! Hymn 909

In the stream! In the stream!
Let us work in the stream!
In the stream! In the stream!
We'll work as in the heav'nly team!

Our prayers were all heavenly and we touched the throne of God directly in this battle. Through thick and thin, we braved the enemy's attack. The grace of God was bountiful and we have been led from victory to victory! Hallelujah!

Even as we inquired from a brother who has been involved in at least a score of this kind of proofreading work globally, he testified that this one in India with four languages was the toughest and also the longest. By the way, this also transpired in the midst of pandemic. All the other works had been on just one language, but this was in four languages combined. No wonder the work load was fourfold. The greater the need, the greater the grace too!

This proofreading work will go down in the history of the Lord’s move, especially in India, as one significant event contributing to the carrying our of God’s economy. 

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in the Christ and manifests the savor of the knowledge of Him through us in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14, RecVer)

Sri Lanka Connection

A brother from Sri Lanka came to learn and observe the proofreading works of the New Testament Recovery Version in Hyderabad. When he was to come I had the opportunity to coordinate in working out his visa by requesting a local brother to invite him formally. Then when he did come, I again had the grace to pick him up from the Airport.  And finally, when he left India I had the privilege of dropping him to the Airport. 

While he was here he learned and picked up typesetting skills. After a few days later he became ill with a contagious flu spreading around. Then, I had the opportunity to serve him with food. As he was getting sicker, out of suspicion I had to do a home test for a common virus infecting him. Negatively, the result was positive. Therefore, he had to postpone the date of his return journey. He stayed for another week, literally in quarantine. During the entire period of his quarantine I had the grace to care take of for his food and his health. And finally, after a week when he became fully healthy again, a test was done for his going back. With the healthy report of the test, he could leave the country for his home country, Sri Lanka.

While I went to drop him, I got to fellowship with him personally. In fact, that was the only time got to fellowship. He was in his early fortys and yet to be married. I shared the vision of marriage and how to look to the Lord for His leading concerning who his wife should be. This fellowship was never planned, but I believe the Lord had this very thing in His heart. Therefore I became the messenger to him for this purpose. As he opened up a little bit about the brothers' fellowship to him in Sri Lanka, I basically joined myself to those brothers and continued the same line of fellowship. In fact, a sister had been proposed to him but due to lack of clarity and self denial, he could not accept the proposal. I did not propose another sister to him at all but simply asked him to reconsider the brothers' proposal again. I shared my own testimony of how the Lord led me in my marriage and particularly in amening the Lord’s arrangement through the brothers' fellowship. I also testified to him of how much blessing I have been receiving from the Lord from day one of my marriage life and still the blessings continue to flow. Then, we prayed together for his marriage, took selfie with him and dropped him off.

The Lord sovereignly arranged every situation to be able to participate in his visiting India and also took care of him while he stayed for about two weeks. With this, I have been blessed to have a Sri Lanka connection; a brotherly connection

May the Lord lead him on and on and grace him to be one with Him in his service, marriage, and church life.

Recommending a Brother

A brother with whom I have been praying together often and with whom I have had serious fellowship had gone through a series of life experiences. Just a few weeks ago he called me to fellowship about his consideration and burden to join  the full-time training for about a month, as short termer. In fact, he went through a physical car accident that also contributed to the burden. No matter, whatever way the Lord uses, it is always the Lord who shepherds His children in the way He deems best for each one. The time has come for my brother. 

When he fellowshiped this matter my innate reply was, follow the Lord’s leading. If you have a clear sky before the Lord, just drop everything and follow the Lord, come what may. At rhe same time, I encouraged him to fellowship with his wife and also fellowship with his parent so that even in following the leading of the Lord it is done so in a proper way.  Then he called me again to mention of some obstacles that would delay his joining the training. My brotherly fellowship to him was, be absolute in following the Lord. I even warned him that delaying is the devil's tactic to stop him from following the Lord. He amen my fellowship. Then, we prayed together for his joining the training. 

Then again he called me up to recommend hin for the training as a part of the procedure for joining the training. I considered before the Lord and wrote a letter of recommendation.

RESPONSIBLE BROTHER'S RECOMMENDATION - PART ONE

Dear brothers,

Br. A----- was introduced to me in my first visit to the church in Raipur. Since then we have been in touch over the phone. In mid 2020, he went through a difficult time in his life and was distracted from the ministry for a period of time to the point that he became negative towards the ministry. In fact, he even became a cause of concern for many brothers in North India, especially New Delhi. It was during that time that the Lord burdened me to pray for him specifically and also to pray with him on a regular basis. Since then, we have been fellowshipping and praying together over the phone. 

In September 2020, he came to stay with my family in Gurugram for more than a week. It was there that we could both experience brotherly love and shepherding care towards one another. It was also during his stay there that he confessed his regrets for what he said and done to certain brothers. In fact, together we went to meet some key brothers in Delhi and Gurugram for a "reconciliation" fellowship.

In February 2021, a brother and I visited him at his home in K----, Chhattisgarh, as a part of the North India distribution trip where we fellowshipped at length with him and his entire family. Though he has been going through ups and downs in his life, he has been maintaining the fellowship as much as possible with me; calling me for fellowship, practical advice, sharing his enjoyment of the truths, and prayers. He has also been attending online meetings of the church in Gurugram sometimes and the church in New Delhi other times.  

Recently, he had a practical experience which strengthened his burden of joining at least a month of short-term training. With the burden of joining the training, he requested a recommendation letter. He has agreed to comply with the training rules and regulation, and also consecrated himself for the training. Therefore, as a brother in Christ, trusting in the God of all grace and the Shepherd of our souls, I am writing this recommendation for a short-term training for one month. I believe the Lord will do a deeper work in him and he will cope up with the training.

May the Lord grace our brother and bring him under the divine dispensing of the divine Trinity for His divine move.  

In Him, 

Palmei

This recommendation along with his applucation form were submitted. A week or so after, the Lord has brought him to the training. When he requested for prayer for his training, I replied, "Amen. May you take Christ as grace to enjoy the training and be trained in the training. Praying for you brother."

The Joy of Serving

“It shall not be so among you; but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant, And whoever wants to be first among you shall be your slave; Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28, RecVer)

The Lord Jesus came to serve and not to be served. What a pattern! If the Son of God Himself came to serve, who am I not to serve? The Lord set the record straight and there is no question on service at all; all must serve. 

In the past few weeks, the Lord gave me the opportunity to serve. In the middle of the proofreading in Hyderabad many saints have fallen sick, including myself for two days, and many others followed suit. It was like a flu spreading. Yet when I got well, I had the grace and the blessing to serve. Three of the saints who came from abroad also had fallen sick to the extent that they had to quarantine themselves for their safety and for the sake of others. That was a good opportunity for me to serve. In fact, a blessing in disguise, practically in the matter of serving them food, three meals a day. I had the privilege and honor to make the food ready on time and deliver the food to the sick saints in their room. I did it all with joy! Besides running around to meet the immediate and practical day to day need of buying medicines and food items, I was in a-kind-of being in pressure but not pressured. I took the Lord as my wisdom and grace to carry out all my responsibilities. I did all that with joy! No exaggeration, I truly meant it.

Amidst the busy service schedule, when I was informed to minister among the seekers in Madhya Pradesh, I ministered on the joy of serving.

Quoting the Lord’s word as the truth points, I ministered on serving the Lord by serving the saints, beginning with minial jobs. If one cannot serve in practical homely matters, it is hard to expect from such a one to serve in the ministry of the word. I do not believe that a minister would be so anointed by the Lord that he altogether neglect his human ministry of serving in practical daily and homely matters. Yes, the Lord is the greatest minister yet He also served people and his disciples. He healed, preached, and taught, at the same time, He also washed His disciples' foot. He is God Himself yet He served practically too. Stephen was a faithful steward filled with the Holy Spirit and ministered the word with power and authority. 

Many Christians, especially brothers, are spiritually blind in wanting to be leaders without the heart of serving. Many brothers are ambitious to be somebody in the Lord’s work. What a shame! No true servant of the Lord would be ambitious for leadership, yet the Lord will make them leaders. Even when the Lord made them leaders they would humbly serve as though they are not leaders at all. That is a proper attitude. 

Only the spiritually blind ones would fight for leadership. The more they fight ambitiously the more they are disqualified to be leaders. Only the one whom the Lord appoints and annoints will be leaders, not to exert authority and rule over others but to lead as a pattern in serving. Such is the need of the day. May the Lord recover all the saints to simply serve as slaves not looking for position and not being ambitious at all.

When one has proper attitude concerning serving, his service will be full of life and joy. Lord, grace us to serve You with joy. O the joy of serving!

Only If the Lord Gains

Since the past few months I have been very busy in traveling for the distribution of the ministry literature and then for the proofreading work of the New Testament Recovery Version. In fact, from 27 Dec 2021 till date, I am in Hyderabad. Therefore,  practically I have not been able to regularly call up the ones I used to shepherd. In fact, two regular shepherding meetings and three regular church meetings I have not been able to participate for a few minth now. I realized that the time has come for me to take my hands off and let the brothers go on based on the foundational shepherding work the Lord through my co-laboring had done upon them. The outcome of all that had been done and what have been going on even in my absence, only the Lord knows. He will do what He deems best. Only if the Lord gains these ones, they will be gained. 

There are a good number of seekers and families that I have been burdened for. In fact, I had been shepherding them with the best of my ability. Now the time has come for me to put my hands off from them too. Whether they will enter into the church life or not is up to the Lord and up to them, depending on how much they are willing to be absolute to the truths being shown to them. I felt deep within me that I have discharged my burdens for these ones and did all that I could possibly have done. I have no regrets. I leave the outcome to the Lord. If the Lord gains them, they will be gained.

At the end of last year I did reconsider what all had been done throughout the year. The burdens and goals I had for the years, to my judgment, have not been fulfilled. Should I term myself a failure based on the visible result? Yes, may be, or may be not. I did my best. I didn't have any better way either, or may be I didn't know the better way. Whatever, now I leave the matter to the Lord. If the Lord gains, they will be gained. The seeds have been sown, and now awaiting its growth and harvest one day.

If the Lord gains, He will gain all these ones. They will absolutely be the result of the Lord’s work. Therefore, not to justify myself of not meeting my goals, but stating the fact as fact, if the Lord gains them, they definitely will be gained. Amen.

I simply put my trust in the word of God.

“Unless Jehovah builds the house, Those who build it labor in vain. Unless Jehovah keeps the city, The guard watches in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To stay up late, To eat the bread of toil; All the same, He gives to His beloved while they sleep.” (Psalms 127:1-2, RecVer)

And also be able to declare as Habakuk did;

“For the fig tree will not sprout, And there will be no yield on the vines; The labor on the olive tree will fail, And the fields will make no food; The flock will be cut off from the fold, And there will be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will exult in Jehovah; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18, RecVer)

The Best of the Land

Today morning I woke up after a strange dream in which I was give a piece of property, a big area of land with a big house with green lawn in the backyard and even a bigger front lawn alongside some small houses on rent. The land was offered to me, apparently from a relative. But even in my dream I hesitated to receive it as it was like an inheritance from a relative. I would rather purchase my own. Nonetheless, in the dream my family have occupied the house with large rooms filled with expensive gadgets. I was not that peaceful to have those expensive electronic gadgets which general were used for entertainment purposes. With such an awkward feeling I woke up from the dream. I did not pay much attention to it, brushing it off as just a mere dream that anybody can dream of.

Today evening in my Bible reading, the Lord spoke to me these verses spoken to Joseph. They were even promises made and fulfilled, "I will give you the best of the land of Egypt."

“And take your father and your households, and come to me. And I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.” (Genesis 45:18, RecVer)

“And do not be concerned for your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.” (Genesis 45:20, RecVer)

“The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any capable men among them, make them overseers over my livestock.” (Genesis 47:6, RecVer)

“And Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.” (Genesis 47:11, RecVer)

As I read these verses, the Lord reminded me of the dream I had last night and asked me to write down today's date, 20th Jan 2022, on the side of the verse in my Holy Bible, RecoveryVersion, “And do not be concerned for your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.” (Genesis 45:20, RecVer).

I am satisfied, content, and happy with what the Lord has blessed me so far. As long as I have Him and enjoy His presence, I truly desire no more; for the Lord Jesus is my true satisfaction. Whatever the dream might indicate, I leave it to the Lord who knows best. He knows what is best for me and everything concerning me. Let Him take the final call in every matter. My heart's intent is always to receive the heavenly and spiritual blessings as in Ephesians. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ,” (Ephesians 1:3, RecVer)

I have also been reminded of the conversation between the Lord and Peter.

“Then Peter answered and said to Him, Behold, we have left all and followed You. What then will there be for us?And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that you who have followed Me, in the restoration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My name’s sake shall receive a hundred times as much and shall inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:27-29, RecVer)

The Lord had spoken in plain words. However one may interprete theses verses, the Lord will take the final call and let Him do whatever He wants to do. Yes, there are the Lord's promises, but I will not run after the promises of blessings, be it heavenly or earthly, I would rather have Him as the Blessing. When I have Him and enjoy His presence, He is mine! Let the wise in heart judge what is better, the blessings or the Blesser? I would rather choose the Blesser. Therefore, I am not bothered and will not be bothered by promises being fulfilled or not, as long as I have the Blesser, God Himself, my Lord, my God, and my Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Lord had spoken in plain words. However one may interprete theses verses, the Lord will take the final call and let Him do whatever He wants to do. Yes, there are the Lord's promises, but I will not run after the promises of blessings, be it heavenly or earthly, I would rather have Him as the Blessing. When I have Him and enjoy His presence, He is mine! Let the wise in heart judge what is better, the blessings or the Blesser? I would rather choose the Blesser. Therefore, I am not bothered and will not be bothered by promises being fulfilled or not, as long as I have the Blesser, God Himself, my Lord, my God, and my Savior, Jesus Christ!

A Faithful Slave

Yesterday, the 18th of January 2022, one of our dear brothers, a Marathi translator and editor, went to be with the Lord. The matter was made known to me while I was in the training hall of the ongoing Recovery Version proofreading project. Perhaps, the time had come for our brother. It was surprisingly shocking, yet the Lord is sovereign.

Later, I took the initiative to make the matter known to all the other serving ones in the literature service through our WhatsApp group. In the afternoon, a brother and I attended the funeral meeting online and at the last minute, were able to send a text message which was read outloud at his burial site, afterwhich he was buried.

Message on Behalf of the Serving Ones in the Literature Service

Read outloud just before Br. Samuel Sane's burial at the burial site.

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Dear brothers and sisters, as serving ones in the literature service who had the privilege of serving the Lord with our dear Brother Samuel Sane, we convey our deepest condolence at the departure of our dear brother. This is a huge loss to the Marathi literature service, and we believe , for the church also.

Our brother had been so faithful in his service. The Lord used him to begin the translation of the ministry of the age to Marathi. He had been a fellow slave and fellow soldier who untiringly served the Lord supplying the riches of the ministry to saints through his translation service. Inspite of his several physical weaknesses, our brother served faithfully till his last breath. We are deeply grieved by this loss. Our heart goes to the family members of our brother. We stand one with all the brothers in the local church there in prayers for the Lord to encourage all the bereaved. 

We are in the middle of bringing the  riches of the New Testament Recovery Version to seven Indian languages, one of which is Marathi. Our dear Sister Preethi is laboring faithfully in this service. Her father had been a strength to her, both her mentor in this service and a wonderful companion to her. We pray that the Lord would supply her and grace her and the team to bring out the Recovery Version in Marathi. That would really make our brother Samuel happy as it would please the Lord also.

Brother Kerry who is also here in Hyderabad wanted us to convey how appreciative he is of Brother Samuel's faithfulness in his service.

May the Lord be with our Brother Samuel's family, all the saints and grace us to go on for the fulfillment of His economy.

Serving ones in Amana Literature

Today, in the memorial day meeting, as serving ones in the literature service, we were given the first opportunity to testify on his behalf. 

Br. Samuel Sane was the pioneer for the Lord’s move in Maharastra and had paved the way for many more to be brought into the truths. He spearheaded the translation of majority of the hymns which are being used in the churches speaking Marathi today all over Maharastra. He had also been faithfully translating the ministry literature to Marathi diligently and faithfully. One key word that stood out in all the testimonies is, "faithful."

For many years our brother had been suffering from many health issues. But whenever anyone enquired about his health his plaintruth reply had always been, "Grace upon grace, abounding, absolute, and bountiful grace who is Christ Himself is sufficient."

He used to be the first person to translate all the training and conferences materials whenever assigned to him. He had also raised up a good number of serving ones to follow in his footsteps. Now we have a team of Marathi translators who will continue the Marathi literature service. Though we have lost him physically, he had raised up his predecessors, not leaving his service void, to continue the very works he had given his whole life for. He had trained his own family to be so one with the ministry, especially in the literature service, that the condolence amount we offered to his family was offered back for the sake of the literature service in Marathi. What a testimony!

In my portion, I shared just two verses that I believe, truly describes his service.

“Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time?” (Matthew 24:45, RecVer)

“His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21, RecVer)

Besides, many other saints who have been shepherded by him have testified concerning our dear brother. With all these saints remembering what the Lord had done in our brother's life, a brother well quoted this verse:

“Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of His faithful ones.” (Psalms 116:15, RecVer)