Ichabod: No Glory

In their degradation, the children of Israel offended God to the uttermost, and God left them; eventually, instead of the Ark saving Israel, the Ark itself was captured, and the glory of God departed from Israel (1 Sam. 2:30, 34; 4:10-18, 22; Psa. 78:61); to be “Arkless” is to be “Christless,” and to be “Christless” means that there is “Ichabod,” meaning No Glory (1 Sam. 4:21-22; Rev. 3:20).

1 Samuel 4:11 And the Ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

1 Samuel 4:18 And when he mentioned the Ark of God, Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate. And he broke his neck and died, for he was an old man and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

1 Samuel 4:19 And his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to deliver; and when she heard the report that the Ark of God had been taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she bowed down and gave birth, for her pains came upon her.

1 Samuel 4:20 And around the time that she died, the women who stood around her said, Do not fear, for you have borne a son. But she did not answer or pay attention.

1 Samuel 4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, meaning, The glory has departed from Israel, because the Ark of God had been taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

1 Samuel 4:22 And she said, The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been taken.

This is a history, but it must not be repeated in our Christian life. Glory is God expressed. If there is no expression of God in our Christian life, it is an Ichabod situation. This would be a sad thing to ever happen in the course of our Christian lives. This must also serve as a warning that we should not do anything that the glory of God may depart from us. We cannot take things for granted. While there is still time and when things can still be amended, we must heed to the warning and do the needful. Lest, we end up with our "Eli, Hophni and Phinehas" death and the Ark of God being taken away. 

Perhaps, there may be successes outwardly with good jobs, fat payscale, high position, comfortable living, and outward prosperity, but the question is, "Is there God expressed in all these?" What difference does it make having all things but God's glory even when many godless people are healthy and wealthy? The striking difference is the expression of God's glory in all that we are and do. 

When I learned of this truth my being trembled before God that I and my family and the church I am in should not end up in an Ichabod situation. God is everything in my life. I cannot imagine living a Godless life. All my taste for worldly wealth has since long gone. Given a choice today between God and prosperity, I would willingly and happily choose God even if it meant poverty. I have tasted God and I cannot live without Him. To me, a life with God is not worth the living. I treasure the presence of God more than anything else. I care not for anything else even if they are necessary. God knows what I need and He knows what is the best, I would rather leave the matter of any physical blessing, if need be, to His discretion. Let Him decide and I just receive whatever He bestowed upon me. I would only care for Him and His presence. I do not want any godless life, no glory life, an Ichabod life. 

Lord, have mercy on me. Do not depart from me, and preserve me in You and in Your presence all the days of my life. I don't want an Ichabod situation ever in my life.

Acacia: Christ's Humanity

Ex 25:10 And they shall make an ark of acacia wood: two and a half cubits shall be its length; and one and a half cubits, its width; and one and a half cubits, its height.
Ex 25:11 And you shall overlay it with pure gold; inside and outside you shall overlay it; and you shall make a rim of gold upon it all around.

The Ark of acacia wood signifies Christ as the embodiment of the Triune God possessing divinity mingled with humanity, strong in character and high in standard. This Ark is the center and content of the tabernacle, spiritually signifying Christ as the content and center of the church today. 

As children of God and believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, our experiences should be in who Christ is in His divinity and in His humanity. Today, Christ is the life-giving Spirit dwelling in our spirit. By living and walking according to the Christ who indwells us, we can live out the life of Christ. This living out of Christ is the meaning of the Christian life. This is the kind of life God desires His children to live. The life of Jesus, when He was on the earth, is the pattern for us to live out and follow as our pattern. Not in an outward way of "what would Jesus do" as some Christians try to imitate, but in the way of experiencing Him as life and life supply. 

As much as Christ's humanity is strong in character and high in standard, our lives should live out the same characteristics; strong in character and high in standard. Today as we live in this evil age, filled with characterlessness and sinful living, the believers can actually live a life, the living again of Jesus on the earth, an anti-testimony to the godless people, in this crooked and perverted generation.  

Satan attacks people's humanity the most.  Therefore, trusting the Lord, the believers need to be exercised in their living to exhibit the life of Jesus as a testimony to others. Action speaks louder than words. In addition to witnessing the love of God and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, we also need to live a life that testifies the very Christ we preach and witness. This is the urgent need today; a living testimony.

According to God's ordination, the rightful place of the Ark is in the tabernacle, and then the temple after the temple was built in Jerusalem by Solomon. The history of the Ark from its rightful position to displaced positions due to the failure of the Israelites and back to the temple must be a reminder and a warning to make sure that our expereinces of Christ must be in and for the church.  The Ark had been in the house of Abinadab at Kiriath-jearim for twenty years (1 Sam. 7:1-2) and then in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months (2 Sam. 6:10-12),  and later David prepared a tent for the Ark in Jerusalem. All these were a record of the abnormal position of the Ark. But when the Ark was brought into the temple in Jerusalem, the glory of God filled the temple, because the Ark has come back to the right position as ordained by God. In a similar manner, our experiences of Christ as the Ark should be on the proper ground of the church. Christ and the church always go together. Therefore, our experience of Christ must be in the church and for the church. 

The experience of Christ as the reality of the acacia wood overlaid with gold must be in the proper church life for the building up of the church as the Lord's corporate expression. This is the need today. 

Experiencing Christ as the acacia wood overlaid with gold must be in the church and for the church. 

Shepherding: Discerning

Last night, a new one texted that he would like to come over today. Of course, my innate reply would always be yes. But this time with a note of caution for myself within my being as I already had a bad experience with this particular one, in his unfaithfulness in money matter. Today morning when he texted me again for the address I hesitated a bit but finally, texted him, and waited for him to come to visit me. 

In my prayer, I have asked God for discernment in my life. In the past, I have helped so many people just because they asked for help or I wanted to help them, sympathize with them of their situations. But now, I am learning to reject my own feeling and look to the Lord even for so-called "good deeds." The past many "good deeds" I have done only made me realize how much I was in myself, not depending on the Lord. I should now learn to have the same feeling as God and not be deceived by what people say or what I feel as a human being. Satan can play with peoples' emotions very smartly. 

When this new one came, as I expected, he came and requested help. I was firmly determined not to give him any financial help as I have already learned my lesson in people's playing with Christian's emotions. Not to my surprise, he frankly asked for over three weeks of accommodation. He gave reasons to get my sympathy but I was not impressed at all; in fact, I felt like he was playing a trick to get favor from me. This, I already expected from before. Therefore, I frankly told him "NO". And further helped him to not seek any material or monetary help at all while seeking God. If he wants to seek God, seek God purely even without mentioning any of his problems to man. I gave my testimony of bringing all my problems to the Lord for a solution and not mentioning to any men, as much as possible, as my help comes from God and not man. 

I felt this was the lesson he needs to learn now. I even told him not to repeat this kind of trick to get people's sympathy and gain favor for help. I also encouraged him to read the Bible and the Shepherding Materials I gifted him if he was serious about seeking God. 

Today being a holiday, there were not many transport services for him to go back to his lodge. I intentionally did not initiate to drop him. But when he requested for a drop, I felt the need to drop him, but again with much caution. Generally, with other new ones, I would initiate to do all the dropping and help, but with this one, my spirit led me to restraint in not expressing things too soon and waited to do the needful only at the right time. This indeed is a precious lesson I am learning. Even when I went to drop him off, I was exercised within not to fall into the trap of the enemy in case something happens. I no longer take things for granted, even with new ones. I learn to seek the Lord in every minute detail. 

This is a lesson I am learning in shepherding, discerning people so that the proper shepherding can be rendered. 

Lord, give me discernment.

Beracah: Blessing Jehovah

Today, in my Bible reading, the Lord revealed to me practical Christian living. I have never seen and learned such precious lessons from the life of Jehoshaphat. What a blessing that He pleased to reveal these things to me and that I would be blessed and in turn bless Jehovah!

The lesson began with seeking God...

Seeking God: God is great in leading the people the way they ought to be led. He used the nations around the people of God due to which, the king had to seek God and proclaimed a fast. 

2 Chronicles 20:3 And Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to pursue Jehovah, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

2 Chronicles 20:4 And Judah gathered themselves to seek help from Jehovah; indeed out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah.

Praying in Seeking God: The king then prayed to God from Whom he sought help. 

2 Chronicles 20:5 And Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, before the new court;

2 Chronicles 20:6 And he said, O Jehovah, the God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? And in Your hand is strength and might, and there is no one who can stand against You.

Prayer in Claiming the Acts of God in the Past: The king recounted the acts of God in the past and reminded God that He is still God and would do likewise at the present time as in the past.

2 Chronicles 20:7 Did You not, O our God, dispossess the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the seed of Abraham Your friend?

2 Chronicles 20:8 And they have dwelt in it and built in it for You a sanctuary for Your name, saying,

2 Chronicles 20:9 If evil comes upon us, the sword or judgment or pestilence or famine, we will stand before this house and before You — for Your name is in this house — and cry unto You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.

Prayer in Mentioning the Facts He Faced: The king narrated the facts he had been facing, a threat from the enemies.

2 Chronicles 20:10 And now at this moment the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned away from them and did not destroy them —

2 Chronicles 20:11 At this moment they are rewarding us by coming to cast us out of Your possession, which You gave us as a possession.

Prayer in Confession and Acknowledging His Helplessness: The king confessed his helplessness before his enemies and acknowledged that he had no strength and did not know what to do but to look away unto Him. He did the prayers with all the houses of Judah and their whole families. 

2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no strength before this great multitude that is coming against us, and we do not know what to do; but our eyes are upon You.

2 Chronicles 20:13 And all Judah stood before Jehovah with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

Prayers Answered: The king's humble and sincere prayers were immediately answered. 

2 Chronicles 20:14 Then the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly;

Prayer Answered in Encouragement: God answered the prayers by encouraging them not to be afraid and that the battle is God's.

2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat. Thus says Jehovah to you, Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.

Prayer Answered with Detail of God's Fighting for Them: 

2 Chronicles 20:16 Tomorrow go down against them. They are coming up at the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the river valley before the wilderness of Jeruel.

2 Chronicles 20:17 It is not for you to fight in this battle. Station yourselves; stand and see the salvation of Jehovah among you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid nor dismayed. Tomorrow go out to meet them, for Jehovah is with you.

Worshipping  and Praising Jehovah God Who Answer Prayers:

2 Chronicles 20:18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before Jehovah to worship Jehovah.

2 Chronicles 20:19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, rose up to praise Jehovah the God of Israel with an exceedingly loud voice.

Believing in Jehovah: The result of answered prayers to the genuine seekers of God is believing in Jehovah and being established by Him.

2 Chronicles 20:20 And they rose up early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in Jehovah your God, and you will be established; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.

Taking Counsel and Giving Thanks to Jehovbah:

2 Chronicles 20:21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them to sing to Jehovah and give thanks in holy array as they went out before the army and say, Give thanks to Jehovah, for His lovingkindness endures forever.

God in Action: In answer to the prayers, God took action and fought the battle for His people as He promised. In His wisdom, the enemy fought against themselves and got defeated. The people of God need not fight at all! 

2 Chronicles 20:22 And when they began to shout in song and to praise, Jehovah set ambushes for the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who were coming out against Judah; and they were struck.

2 Chronicles 20:23 And the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to absolutely destroy and demolish them; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every man helped to destroy his neighbor.

Witnessing Victory Without Battle: God's people only became a witness to the victory of God against their enemies in answer to their seeking God in prayers. 

2 Chronicles 20:24 And Judah came to the wilderness watchtower and looked upon the multitude; and there they were, fallen corpses on the ground, and no one escaped.

Reaping in Abundance: God's people reap in abundance the spoils from the victorious battle they never fought. 

2 Chronicles 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil of them as plunder, they found among them in abundance both possessions and corpses and precious vessels, and stripped these for themselves, more than they could carry. And they spent three days taking spoil, for there was much.

Blessing Jehovah: As a result of the victory by the answered prayers, God's people blessed Jehovah. Blessing God is the result of being blessed by God while seeking Him in humility, truthfulness, and prayer.

2 Chronicles 20:26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Beracah (for there they blessed Jehovah; therefore they have called the name of that place the valley of Beracah to this day).

Rejoicing in the Church, the House of Jehovah: The people of God came back to the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem rejoicing, implying the need to be in the proper ground of the church to enjoy God's victory.  

2 Chronicles 20:27And they turned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, to go back to Jerusalem with rejoicing; for Jehovah had caused them to rejoice over their enemies.

 2 Chronicles 20:28 And they came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of Jehovah.

God's Blessing Issuing in Fearing God, in Peace, and in Rest: The ultimate issue of being blessed by God is that there will be godly fear and peace all around; within and without.

2 Chronicles 20:29 And the fear of God was upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that Jehovah had fought with the enemies of Israel.

 2 Chronicles 20:30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God had given him rest all around.

These are the lessons I learned today from the revelation God has shown me concerning blessing God as being blessed by God while seeking Him in all humility and prayer. Amen.

Life Lessons: Shepherding

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only good Shepherd. As His child, I am also learning to shepherd the new ones who are brought under my care. Out of the burden I have for the new ones, I have a soft and tender heart towards all the ones I care for. But oftentimes my natural affection took over the feeling of God, in the past. My own natural goodness has been a hindrance for me in genuinely caring for the believers. As fallen human beings, even the believers expressed their practical needs, mostly financial, and even expected help as a part of shepherding. 

In the past, I have helped a good number of new ones financially as the Lord also provided the sources. But later I realized that they are not very genuine in their seeking "help." They have often taken me for granted just to console and comfort them during their hard times and provided them some help, financially, when they are in need. I have made the mistake of my emotion taking over my spirit. My soft natural heart was so easily convinced to sympathize with them and help with whatever and whichever way I could. Of course from my side, I do it as to the Lord. But later my eyes were opened to see that that may not be the best way to shepherd these new ones, especially those who only expect financial help from me. 

In fact, when I realize that these ones that I have helped in the name of "shepherding" actually are not genuine seeking ones. They took advantage of my Christian brotherhood and played with my emotion. If they were serious and genuine in their seeking they would have fully given themselves to the Lord and even come into the church life by now. Despite all my effort o usher them into the church life, they simply and indirectly proved to me that they are eyeing only for "monetary shepherding." This is a big lesson for me to learn in shepherding. 

Oh how much I need the discerning spirit to discern succinctly from the very first meeting with these new ones! Now I have decided only to shepherd them with the word of God, prayer, fellowship, and in non-monetary matters. If my shepherding with the word and prayer cannot usher them into the church life, my monetary shepherding will never. I am afraid I might spoil them with "easy money." With this lesson learned, I have deleted those new ones' bank account I have saved in my saving bank so that I may not be easily prompted to transfer money. In case the Lord wants me to still help them monetarily, I will do so in cash but after much prayer and consideration as not to repeat the past mistakes I have already commited.

Money is so deceptive. It blinds people's eyes, not the receiver only, but many times even the channel through which the offering was routed.  In the past week, I have heard three different brothers indirectly mentioning their need for financial help. They have not come into the practical church life yet, still, they dared to speak in such a loose way. I guess it was for my learning that the Lord allowed such incidents. Now I am determined not to help them financially at all until the Lord lead me so, and will only pray for them and shepherd them with the word of God.

Only Christ, the church, and the truths should be the goal of shepherding. Even if any new ones are attracted to the church it must be just for the sake of Christ and the truths. My material for shepherding must also be just Christ, the truths, and the church.

Lors, shepherd me so that I can shepherd others in a pure way with the goal of Christ and the church only.

Director's Duties

As a serving one in the literature service which is registered to the Government of India for all legal formalities and conformity to the law of the land, we, a group of brothers, serve together as directors. Even within this group, two directors are mostly in the operation of the company of which my responsibility is to carry out many practical working out of the need of the company. 

Since 2010, I have been brought onboard serving as one of the directors. And since then, I have been learning how to serve as a director. God is my witness, I have never assumed a position of being a director as such in a matter of position to boast or show off before man, but whenever needed I did stand on that ground and do the works that needs to be done, but mostly for official purposes.

These days many of the works of "directing" needs to be done. Since the company has been blessed by the Lord to cater to the need of this country, India, for the spiritual supply of food to all the children of God in at least ten Indian languages and distributing the ministry literature all over India,  many "directorial" decisions have to be taken. In a very practical term, we have had many "brainstorming sessions" to consider and come to a conclusion about some crucial matters. Of course, the difference here is, our brainstorming session has been with much exercises of the spirit with prayer, and fellowshipping matters together with the brothers and then seeking the leading of the Lord in fellowship and oneness to make the final call. Many of my office hours have been consumed on considering people for the service and dealing with almost all practical things of the company.  The Lord has been my wisdom and grace to do all that He wants me to do.

All this, said David, has He made clear by a writing from the hand of Jehovah upon me, all the details of the pattern. And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and take courage and do it; do not be afraid or dismayed, for Jehovah God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until the completion of all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah. And here are the divisions of priests and Levites for all the service of the house of God, and with you in all the work will be every willing man with wisdom for any service; also the leaders and all the people will be wholly at your command. 1 Chronicles 28:19-21

 God gave Solomon wisdom to deal with His people and built the temple in Jerusalem.  There are many spiritual lessons I am learning from the Bible concerning Solomon and the way he exercised wisdom and discernment in overseeing the people of God and the works of God. In many matters, I felt like walking on a tight rope as the cases we have been dealing with are very sensitive in nature and can have an adverse effect if not dealt with properly.  I am glad I have a group of coordinating brothers to consider every matter together; we serve in the coordination in the Body. This has been my protection and previlege to discharge the director's duties assigned to me. I can only pray the prayer of Solomon in asking God for wisdom.

Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours? 2 Chronicles 1:10

Lord, give me wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and skill to serve as Your slave to fulfill all the director's duties You have sovereignly assigned to me. 

Lessons on Prayer

To be a man of prayer to pray according to God's heart's desire, one has to learn spiritual principles set up by God; learn the life lessons from the history of the children of God, and also learn from the negative situations among God's children as holy warnings. 

Samuel as a man of prayer had learned all these lessons as he grew up and therefore could serve effectively as a Nazarite, prophet, priest, judge, and a man of prayer. He represented God among God's people and turned the age from the waning and degrading priesthood to the age of the king. In fact, he anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. Such a man, Samuel, approved of God or asked of God, is the need of the age. Today's Samuel is the need now, who would be an overcomer to turn the age. Who can be such?

To be an overcomer like today's Samuel, the first requirement is to voluntarily consecrate as a Nazarite. In this consecration, one has to deal with the world with all its enjoyment and pleasure. This needs a thorough and strong consecration. We live in an age surrounded by the world with all its glories and glitters, only a "Samuel" can overcome its stupefying effects. Then, there is a need for complete submission to God's authority and His many deputies' authorities. Then there must be the dealings with natural affection and abstaining from spiritually dead people. All these, in principle, were laid down in Numbers 6.

Following the consecration, there must be the learning of life lessons in learning to listen to God.

And Eli said to Samuel, Go and lie down, and if He calls you, you shall say, Speak, O Jehovah; for Your servant is listening. And Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then Jehovah came and stood by and called as at the other times, Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel said, Speak, for Your servant is listening. 1 Samuel 3:9-10

Learn to listen to God. Do not do anything without the word of God. Besides, Samuel also witnessed all the evils that Eli's sons had committed in the house of Jehovah. He observed the situation, though negative, yet did not rebel against Eli's house, nor tried to bring in revolution, but as he heard from God and saw revelations concerning God's heart's desire, he quietly learned and turned all those things he saw as holy warnings which became a preservation for him for his whole life. With all these spiritual learnings, he was a man of prayer. Such a person can indeed be a man of prayer. He even regarded not praying for god's people as a sin.

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I would sin against Jehovah by ceasing to pray for you, but I will instruct you in the good and right way. 1 Samuel 12:23

In line with this, in the church's perfecting training, we also learned some precious lessons on prayer from A Pattern of the Healthy Words, Lesson Twenty, Prayer

Ephesians 6:18 By means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints.

Col. 4:2 Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving.

Phil. 4:6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Mark 9:29  And He said to them, This kind cannot come out by any means except prayer.

The highest and most accurate meaning of prayer is that it is the mutual contact between God and man.

A vital person, an overcomer, is a praying person. 

The vitality is not in your doing. The vitality is in your prayer.

To pray means that we realize that we are nothing and that we can do nothing.

Prayer is man breathing in God, obtaining God, and being obtained by God. 

When some saints hear a word about prayer, they immediately ask how to pray. We should forget about how and simply pray. We learn to pray by praying.

We need to persevere in prayer because almost everything in our environment is contrary to prayer. Only prayer can enable us to go against the current. Therefore, we need to persevere in prayer, to pray persistently.

Before we try to persevere in prayer, we should first make a deal with the Lord concerning our prayer life and make a vow to Him concerning our prayer life. We should set aside definite times for prayer.

Our attitude should be that prayer is our most important business and that nothing  should be allowed to interfere with it.

All the above points were the burden I receive in the last week and shared the same to a group of believers in Madhya Pradesh and also in the church meeting last Lord's day. As I released the burden, it was also a timely word for me as well. In fact, in the prayer meeting last week, we led the saints to have a time of consecration for payer alone, and I myself reconsecrated again pray for at least one hour daily. 

May the Lord grace all of us to be a man of prayer, an overcomer, to turn the age to bring in the kingdom of God.