Shepherding: Following

Then when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My lambs. He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Peter was grieved that He said to him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, When you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go. John 21:15-18

In shepherding, I simply have to follow the Lord's leading through the brothers whether I like it or not. I have to go against my own personal feeling whatsoever.  This lesson is not easy to learn. But when the Lord graces me, all lessons can easily be learned one by one. 

Last week I was invited and encouraged to visit a family that has been undergoing a deep internal problem to the extent of breaking up. Though I did not want to get involved in others' family affairs, in this case, the head of the family, the father, personally invited me to be there for fellowship as he has been very desperate considering the environment at his own home. In fact, he was asked to leave the home due to non-adjustment with the in-laws.

With two other families, I went to visit this family. I had only one burden for the family; to take Christ as grace in all their relationships and family affairs. We spent seven hours with the family as his other extended families also came over. Initially, I felt like I was wasting my time sitting there and listening to whatever anyone had to say. But when the Lord opened the door for me to say something I did not hesitate to do so. In fact, while the family issue was being discussed by my two other brothers, I was testifying to the other family members concerning the Lord's step-by-step and practical leading in my life. Though  I was not prepared, the Lord knew what I need to share and He anointed me to do so. At least for this, I felt it was worth spending 7 hours. 

The following day, the brother who is the father in the family testified during the Lord's table meeting with tears how the saints and the church stood with him in times of trouble, and how he felt so homely being in the church life, and how he could testify over and over again that he has found the true church. When I heard his testimony, I realized that though I did not function much in the seven hours long sitting in his living room, my very presence with other saints itself was the loudest and clearest message to the family that we are the member of the Body of Christ and when one suffers other members suffers along with it. Then I realized that just my presence itself was my function I contributed to the shepherding work of the family. I simply followed the Lord's leading in the visiting of this family and that simply following is my shepherding.

Yesterday, a brother called me again to visit the same family as a new development had just happened. Though I had no plan to visit and in fact, did not prepare nor was willing to go along with him, later, I felt I should go, The Lord reminded me of what He spoke to John, "When you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." Therefore, I prepared myself and went to visit the family. This time we spent a lesser time, about three and half hours, and the main problem between the children and parents was spoken out openly and there was open confession and reconciliation at the end. When we had fellowship I chose to sing Hymn 479, "Grace in its highest definition is God in the Son to be enjoyed by us; it is not only something done or given but God Himself, our portion glorious." Then, there was a fellowship on the word of God on Ephesians 4:1-6. When everything was done, a brother asked me to say something, my only burden was GRACE. So, I encouraged all of them to enjoy Christ as grace day by day, and only by this way of enjoying Christ as grace can the family be in oneness, in peace, and can serve the Lord as a family.

The Lord has answered the prayers of the saints for this family and also honored the fellowship in the Body, and therefore, the family is being preserved. The Lord saved the family from being broken. 

May the Lord continue to preserve this family for His testimony in Gurugram!

Seven Percent (7%)

The Lord has blessed me and my wife with three gracious children when we expected none. As they have been blessed by the Lord, He also provided them with all their needs. While living in a metropolitan city like Gurugram is an expensive affair; housing, food, and education, not to mention other expenses, are already amounting to a lot. The Lord has been faithfully supplying all our needs thus far, and He will continue to do so.

Two years ago, as my children's fees kept increasing at least by 10% every year, I wrote a request letter to the principal and the authorities concerned seeking sibling concession. After much consideration, they came up with a 7% discount on the third sibling. The base for which I wrote the request was on some other schools' giving 25% discount on the second child and 50% discount on the third child. Well, I had no say beyond the request I made. At least, they considered my request and gave me a 7% discount on the third child, which is better than nothing. 

Two years have elapsed, even during the pandemic they still increased the fees while only online classes were on. Now, in this new academic year, I requested for sibling concession again, which I requested two years ago, hoping that with the aftermath of the pandemic and the change of people in the administration, more discounts could have been considered. Alas, I was replied with the same answer as before stating that it was the school's policy to give whatever discount they have already given me, a 7%. I was a little disappointed and wrote back requesting their reconsideration with the view of the benefits of parents with more children. So far my request for gracious consideration seems to have gone futile. In spite of granting a better concession, the school has hiked the fees by 10% and I had to pay up much more than the year before. Well, what can I do? I have to pay the fees as I have no other choice. This only confirms my need to trust the Lord for all the needs as before and as usual. The Lord is faithful to meet the need. He knows well, and He will take care of it.

As I took the matter before the Lord in prayer, the Lord confirmed to me that it does not matter at all whether my children's fees are hiked or not. For He is the supplier of all the needs. He led me to reconsider how I designate my monthly expenses including the amount of offering I have the burden to offer. Item by item, He led me to consider carefully and showed me the solution to how this school fees hike can be easily met without affecting any other need. I have a burden to offer at least 20% to the Lord from what He blessed me with monthly. He showed me how I can still meet this burden in addition to meeting the 10% fees hike. Besides, He also showed me how an extra supply can be gained by rearranging the way I handle the maintenance fees for the premises we live in. 

After this practical fellowship with the Lord, I was much supplied and encouraged by the Lord's wisdom in taking care of all my financial needs. Though the seven percent (7%) concession may not change at all, and though there is a ten percent (10%) hike in the school fees, the Lord in His wisdom showed me the way to manage all these increased needs. Thank the Lord for His counseling!

Whatever percentage of hike in expenses, the Lord's supply can meet every need. Only trusting the Lord is all that is needed to meet any need. 

Lord, increase my faith!

In God I Trust

I trust in You. Psalms 56:3b 

In God, whose word I praise, 

In God do I trust,

and I will not be afraid. Psalms 56:4a 

Today morning we had our company's board meeting wherein I had briefed about the preparedness in buying the 35,000 New Testament Recovery Version from LSM and how to practically pay back the price of the Bible. The amount will be over 200,000 USD and it may not be an easy task to clear this bill. However, as a director, I need to give a word to other directors as to how this can be paid back. In fact, I have been praying over this matter for the past few months now. Though I did not have a clear-cut answer to this very question, I do have confidence in the Lord and faith in Him that it will be paid back within a year's time. Therefore I replied to the query that once the Bibles were printed and delivered to us, we shall clear the bill within a year.

The burden the Lord gave me is that all preparatory works should be done in the best possible way. Therefore, I have worked on preparing the brochure for the 4 languages, PPT, and also one-minute audio introducing the crucial verses and footnotes of the Recovery Version translation. The Lord has been gracing us and we have been making good progress. 

The next step is to fellowship with all the leading brothers and open the door for every saint in the church life speaking these four languages to pick up the burden and do the introduction and distribution. Officially, we may take the lead to first speak to the leading brothers of the local churches and to the key Christian leaders of version Christian groups, Bible colleges, and Christian bookstores.  I believe the Lord will give us the wisdom needed, His grace, and His blessing to distribute these Bibles. In fact, the plan is that all these Bibles can go directly to the saints, seekers, and the customer without having a need for intermediary stocking.  I believe the Lord will open the door and open the hearts of His children to long for this Bible and that they will receive it once it is available.

Based upon this plan that dawned on me in my prayer and consideration before the Lord months, by faith I spoke the word in confidence that we will be able to pay back within a year. Having said this, I do not have any confidence in myself. My full confidence is in the Lord who has been so faithful. The who God led us to study Greek and translate the New Testament will also lead us to print and distribute them to all His children. My confidence is based on God being the source, means, and ends for the distribution of this Bible.

Later, in my personal Bible reading time, the Lord gave a word of encouragement from the life of David. In fact, it seems to me these words are confirmation of what I just said in the board meeting. David knew Jehovah well and he had been trained. With those experiences he had as a shepherd in the wilderness, he was confident enough to challenge and face Goliath. As the fact goes, he defeated Goliath with a single slingshot! 

Drawing from the life of David, I could testify the same. Therefore, the God who called, trained, and led David to kill Goliath will also lead me in this project of the Bible distribution.

And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:32

But Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth and he has been a man of war since his youth. And David said to Saul, Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep; and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I would go out after it and strike it and deliver the lamb from its mouth. And when it rose up against me, I would seize it by its beard and strike it and kill it. Both the lion and the bear did your servant strike; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the ranks of the living God. And David said, Jehovah, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and may Jehovah be with you. 1 Samuel 17:33-37

Above all, David trusted in God and God was with him, giving him wisdom and he acted prudently. Likewise, I should learn from David and seek the Lord's wisdom that I may act prudently in every undertaking.

1 Samuel 18
5 And David went forth; on every mission that Saul sent him he acted prudently. Therefore Saul set him over the men of battle, and it was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
12 And Saul was afraid of David, for Jehovah was with him and had departed from Saul.
14And David acted prudently in all his campaigns, and Jehovah was with him.
15And when Saul saw that he acted very prudently, he stood in awe of him.
:28And Saul saw and knew that Jehovah was with David. And Michal the daughter of Saul loved him.

As David's experiences were, so shall my experiences be. Trusting in God, the Lord will lead me through in planning, preparation, practical distribution, and payback. 

In God I Trust

Jehovah-nissi: Jehovah is My Banner

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.

And Jehovah sent you on a journey and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed. 1 Samuel 15:3, 18

God hates the Amalekites as they represent the enemy of God and His people. The Amalekite is a type of the flesh, warlike, always against God and His people. Therefore, the command against the Amalekites is to utterly destroy them until they are fully consumed. God hates the Amalekites to the extent that not utterly destroying them as per His command would mean disobedience and even a rebellion.

Saul fought against the Amalekites and won the battle but he was not completely obedient to what God commanded. He reserved the "good spoils" that God commanded to utterly destroy. Therefore, he failed God.

And Samuel said, Does Jehovah delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed, than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination,  And insubordination is like idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected the word of Jehovah, He has also rejected you from being king. 1 Samuel 15:22, 23

This morning the Lord convicted me deeply of my failure in not dealing with my flesh utterly and absolutely. I was reminded of the case of Saul how God commanded him to fight against the Amalekites and utterly destroy them. I failed to fight against the flesh and utterly destroy the flesh, and therefore, I was convicted deeply. Fighting against the flesh is a matter of the Spirit in my spirit, and I cannot do in myself. 

The picture in Exodus 17 is the way to deal with the flesh. I need the interceeding Christ. As Joshua obeyed Moses and fought against the Amalekites, I must also obey the speaking Christ to fight against the flesh. As in the case of Samuel, he was completely consecrated to Jehovah and took the Nazarite vow. I was commanded to completely consecrate myself to Lord and make a vow before the Lord, a Nzaraire vow, to separately and sanctify myself from the defilement of the "wine and strong drink", the earthly pleasure and worldly entertainment and anything that is the "product of the vine", anything that is of the world, which has no source in God. This was the Lord's definite speaking to me today. 

A Vow to War Against the Flesh

Therefore, today, in my morning prayer time the Lord convicted me of my failure and need for making a vow to be fully consecrated to God, and in the afternoon prayer time, I took the vow, trusting in the Lord's grace to keep the vow.  I know myself too well and how vulnerable I am to the attack of the enemy and how wishy-washy I have been in my stand against the flesh. Therefore, my burden was mostly on the Lord's grace to lead me through this battle all the days of my life. I have no confidence in myself nor in the vow I make, but I put my confidence in the Lord to whom I make the vow and upon whom I depend and put my full trust. 

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. And Jehovah said to Moses, Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi; Exodus 17:9-15

Today, as I ministered the word to the group of believers in Madhya Pradesh, I ministered my very experience of the Lord in fighting against the flesh.  The Lord comforted me so much when the Bible mentioned that Joshua did as Moses had said and fought against the Amalek, and Joshua defeated Amalek! And Moses built an altar and call the name of it Jehovah-nissi, Jehovah is my banner!.

God spoke, He commanded, He shows the way to obey His commandment, and also comforted me with the confirmation of victory so that He can be my Jehovah-nissi! Hallelujah!

Now, all my worries fled away for it is He who fights and wins the battle for me and He is my banner. Henceforth, I can boldly declare that Christ is Victor! Yes, Christ is my Victor!

An Impromptu Guest

Yesterday, I had a plan to go out for a prayer walk and also finished my pending daily schedules when a brother called me and informed me about a brother for the UAE visiting Delhi for just a day and that we could possibly host him for a time of fellowship. Initially, I was a little reluctant as I had my schedule running in my mind to accomplish it. Yet at the same time, I would not say no to the brother's fellowship nor to a brother visiting from another country. Just within a few minutes of consideration and also fellowship with my wife, I decided to postpone my personal schedule and host a brother, an impromptu guest.

Since he agreed to visit us, I decided to give him a love feast, and then fellowship over dinner. But the time for preparation was too short, I had to purchase some dishes from outside and involved my wife and daughter to make the meal ready. As I was a little concerned if he came before we were ready, but it so happened that due to unavailability of transportation he came a little late giving us enough time to finish all the work and also finished my pending personal assignment for the day, which basically is Bible reading. Besides, I could also fellowship and pray over the phone with another brother. When all these works were done, he reached our home and the meeting hall.

We had a good time of fellowship, ate dinner together, and prayed for the churches in India and the UAE. I also shared with him about the Lord's move in other parts of India among the Hindi-speaking people. The fellowship was worth all the preparation. I have learned to host a guest within short notice, and my family has also learned to coordinate with me and adjust according to need. 

After the fellowship and prayer, I went to drop him at his hotel near the New Delhi airport. And still, I could accomplish one more pending personal assignment, a time of prayer before I went to bed at past midnight.

With a proper heart and will, things can actually be done. Praise the Lord for this wonderful opportunity to host a brother and also an important lesson in preparing to host an impromptu guest! 

Lord, enlarge our capacity.

One Soul at a Time

Today morning as I was spending time with the Lord in prayer, I was burdened concerning bearing spiritual fruit. I have been so barren, not bearing any spiritual fruit for long. Though I preached the gospel at least weekly, I am not satisfied. Though I preached the gospel to people who came to meet me or on the street,  I am not satisfied. Though I lead people to call upon the Lord's name, I am not satisfied. I am looking for a solid spiritual remaining food. Therefore, with such a deep burden I prayed to the Lord that at least I can bear spiritual fruit s regularly and normally. Perhaps, a soul at a time.

Since by the Lord's mercy and grace, as the church, we have been preaching the gospel weekly for at least two hours on Saturdays' afternoon after the church prayer meeting. Well, every time we went out, the Lord was faithful in bringing us to the sons of peace who would listen to the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  If we could at least gain one solid one in a week, the fruits that we can bear in a year would be at least 50 for one person. If at least 10 people go regularly to preach the gospel we should have 500 gospel friends in a year. And if these ones can be shepherded in the proper Christian life and church life, the increase of the church would be manifold.

This burden has become so strong within me that, after the brothers' fellowship I spent time to pray on this burden and wrote a hymn using the tune of a famous Christian song, "One day at  a time." 

Preaching the Gospel: One Soul at a Time

Composed on 26 March 2022

Being desperate in bearing fruit as I prayed before the Lord, a burden to bear fruit one soul at a time was borne. Thus, the hymn.

 Tune similar to “One Dy at a Time” 

One Soul at a Time
1.  Go and disciple, all of the nation!
     Help me obey, Your command today,
     The great commission;      
     Baptizing sinners into Your name-
     Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
     One soul at a time.
 
              One soul at a time, sweet Jesus!
              That’s all I’m asking of You.
              Just give me the grace,
              To bear normally what I have to bear.
              Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus!
              And tomorrow may never be mine.
              Lord, grace me today, to preach the Way,
              One soul at a time.
 
2.  You are the true Vine, in You, I am a branch,
     Abiding in You, I share Your divine life,
     I am one with You!
     Living and preaching, the gospel of grace.
     So, for Your sake, teach me to bring
     One soul at a time.
 
3. Preaching the gospel, in spirit, at all time,
     In season and out of season, no matter what,
     Tis now my burden.
     Bearing spiritual fruit is all I need.
     So, for my sake, grace me to bring
     One soul at a time.

Today, as we went to preach the gospel, the Lord blessed us with a good number of the sons of peace to whom we could preach the gospel, and to some, we led them to pray. Within a span of two hours, the Lord blessed us with four solid contacts, much more than I expected. I prayed for a soul a day, the Lord gave me four souls today. 

Lord, grace me to bear fruit normally, a soul at a time.

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.