Shepherding: Pay the Price

“But the king said to Araunah, No; but I will surely buy it from you for a price, and I will not offer to Jehovah my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And there David built an altar to Jehovah, and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And Jehovah responded to the entreaty for the land, and the plague was stayed in Israel.” (2 Samuel 24:24-25, RecVer)

“But King David said to Ornan, No; but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for Jehovah and offer up burnt offerings that cost me nothing.So David gave to Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the site. And there David built an altar to Jehovah, and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And he called on Jehovah, and He answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering.” (1 Chronicles 21:24-26, RecVer)

The above two verses show the attitude of David in paying the price for offering to Jehovah. He emphatically said, "I will surely buy it from you for a price, and I will not offer to Jehovah my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." This is a good pattern for all believers to follow. Not to take the things of God for granted and always pay the price for anything that is worthwhile.

In this matter, the Lord has been teaching me to do the same. Whenever I want to do something for the Lord, I must not do it in a light way. Even in my shepherding, I must pay the price to take care of the new ones. The price involves time, money, energy, and sacrifices here and there. In a very practical way, whenever I shepherd new ones I also gifted relevant ministry books for them to read. As a serving one in the literature service, I have easy access to all the ministry books, including the printed ministry materials.  But I always pay the price to buy books and gift them to the new ones. I would not take it freely that costs me nothing and give it to others freely that costs them nothing. I would rather pay the price and give it to the new ones so that they will also pay the price in reading and being shepherded by the ministry books. Free things often have no value at all.

The past few weeks I have gifted five different people some selected ministry books. A New Testament, Recovery Version for a new one who visited me on his birthday. What better gift can I give other than the Bible? As he came along with his friend, I also gifted his friend a copy of the Shepherding Materials and to him a copy as well. In addition to the gospel I preached to them with a brother, I gifted the ministry books as a follow-up and also as seeds sown into them.

Similarly, when a Christian brother visited me for the first time, I made sure that he also receive the ministry books. So I gifted to him a set of Life lessons and Shepherding Materials. Though I ministered something, I trusted in the written word too as backup support to whatever I have ministered to him. The same thing I did to a new brother who was baptized. 

To a family who has been serving the Lord for many years in Gurugram and with whom I have been in fellowship for about a year now, I felt the burden from the Lord to start a home meeting where we can pursue the ministry books on the truth concerning oneness. Therefore, I gifted to the brother and his wife, a copy of The Genuine Ground of Oneness in Hindi and English. The burden the Lord gave me for them was on ministering the truth concerning oneness among the children of God and recovering them into the practical reality of being one and meeting as one Body in the city of Gurugram. This book helped me a lot in 2003 and shepherded me into the practical meeting with the saints standing on the local ground of oneness in Chennai. Therefore, I deemed it best to use the same book to help others who may need the help as I needed some twenty years ago.

All these gifts, I believe, the Lord will bless them and make them as seeds that will sprout in their inner being and grow to gain them for the Lord's interest one day. Definitely, when a seed is sown there is the hope of harvest one day. With such divine hope, I keep sowing where and whenever there is an open door.

I believe in the same principle recorded in the Bible, to pay the price for what is precious. Lest I turn the precious into worthless and ended up throwing pearls to hogs. Therefore, in shepherding, always pay the price and do not offer anything that costs nothing.

Amalek: The Flesh

Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, Choose men for us, and go out; fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And when Moses lifted his hand up, Israel prevailed; and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 

Exodus 17:8-13

In typology, the Amalekites signify the flesh—the fallen man. It literally means warlike. Exodus 17:8-13 shows us how to fight against Amalek. In the description of the battle against the Amalekites, there are four persons, Moses, Aaron, Hur, and Joshua. The spiritual significance of these four persons is marvelous. 

Moses lifting up his hand on the mountaintop typifies the ascended Christ interceding in the heavens—Exo. 17:9, 11.

Joshua fighting against Amalek typifies the indwelling Spirit fighting against the flesh 

vv. 9, 13.

Aaron, the highpriest signifies the priesthood, related to the priestly service in the Holy of Holies, which in experience is our spirit.

Hur, a tribe of Judah, signifies the kingship, to which we must submit ourselves to and be in proper order under the headship of Christ.

The relationship and spiritual significance of the four persons involved in the battles against the Amalekites portrays a wonderful and complete picture of how to fight against the flesh. Our fight against the flesh is not by ourselves. The victory of the battle depends on all the four persons coordinating together, meaning our victory depends on how we are rightfully related to God's ordained authority, how we live before God and man as priests, and how we cooperating with the interceding Christ in the heavens in His ascension with the fighting spirit indwelling in our spirit. Basically, the key to victory lies in our praying life in oneness with the interceding Christ by being in the spirit and living under the kingship of Christ. The practical application of this picture is the key to victory in our fight against the flesh. Excerpts from The Crystallization-study of 1 and 2 Samuel, msg 5:

We fight against Amalek by the interceding Christ and the fighting Spirit—Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; Gal. 5:17.  

We need to be in union with the interceding Christ in order to cooperate with the fighting Spirit—Col. 3:1-3, 5; Rom. 8:34, 13; Gal. 5:24, 17. 

In the battle against Amalek, we need to cooperate with the Lord by praying and by putting the flesh to death—Luke 18:1; 1 Thes. 5:17; Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:24. 

When we pray, we are one with the interceding  Christ—Rom. 8:34. 

When we put the flesh to death, we are one with the fighting Spirit—Gal. 5:17. 

On the one hand, we must pray with Christ; on the other hand, we must slay the flesh by the fighting Spirit—v. 24. 

Crucifying the old man was God’s responsibility; crucifying the flesh is our responsibility— Rom. 6:6; 8:13; Gal. 5:24.

Lessons from Saul

Go now and strike the Amalekites; and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, oxen and sheep, camel and donkey.

Then Saul struck the Amalekites from Havilah as you go toward Shur, which is opposite Egypt.

And he captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fatlings, and the lambs and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but everything that was despised and worthless, this they utterly destroyed. 1 Samuel 15:3, 7-9

Saul was commanded to destroy the Amalekites utterly, but he spared its king, Agag, and the best of the spoils. This signifies that while dealing with the flesh we must deal with it thoroughly. God hates the flesh and the Spirit is against the flesh. Sauls's failure lies mostly in his preserving the good spoils purportedly to offer to God. But God would not want anything good or bad from the flesh as the flesh has its source in Satan. It must be exterminated completely. No mercy in dealing with the flesh. 

Oftentimes, we are aware of the evil flesh and deal with it, but we may preserve the good flesh thinking it might be useful to God to some extent. But the flesh is the flesh, the good flesh is as evil as the evil flesh. Therefore, the flesh must be dealt with thoroughly and absolutely.

In addition to dealing with my evil flesh, I have also been learning to deal with my good flesh, especially the sympathy and kindness I used to show when God would want me to deal with it otherwise. In my natural goodness, I often try to sympathize with people and help them when their situations touched me emotionally. Of late, I am beginning to learn that even in doing "good" I must be in the spirit, otherwise, it is as evil as doing evil by doing good in my good flesh. This is not an easy lesson to learn, I admit. I am still learning and I pray that I learn this lesson thoroughly will until my flesh is completely dealt with to the uttermost.

O, the grace to live by the spirit all the time! O, the grace to pray unceasingly! O, the grace to deal with the flesh utterly!

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.