Brotherly Lovefeast: Fellowship

“Be hospitable to one another without murmuring,” (1 Peter 4:9, RecVer)

Yesterday, a brother texted me that he would be visiting us today at about 1 PM. This time being lunchtime, I felt it good to invite him and his family for a brotherly lovefeast and fellowship. So I expressed my feeling to my wife and to my brothers. Then, we planned and prepared for the lovefeast. I also invited another brother's family to join us along. Even for this simple invitation, I prayed and checked with the Lord before taking the decision. Only when I had the peace within, was the decision made.

Today, the brother's family came along with six new friends. By the way, my guest had another business deal to make, signing a house deed with a new tenant to be. After all the businesses were done, we settled down for the brotherly lovefeast.

As the host,  my burden was to serve my guests. I and my family did our best to coordinate and serve our guests. The satisfaction and enjoyment of the guests was our responsibility. With proper care and concern, I served them well, to the extent that I could not eat, caring for their satisfaction. The Lord graced me to learn how to give hospitality which I had not been good at it in the past. I feel now that I am learning this lesson.

Besides the hospitality, there was also some time to share the gospel with the guests who were unbelievers and also prayed for them. The brotherly lovefeast and fellowship seemed to be very beneficial. 

Later, the brother, my host, sent a voice message to say thanks, and also prayed for me and my family. Though I did not expect anything in return for the hospitality, as I felt it was a simple gesture of brotherly love, I felt so unworthy to be showered upon with thanks and prayers.

Thank the Lord that He has been gracing me to fellowship and give hospitality to fellow believers and gospel friends.

Davidic Covenant

“When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, which will come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.It is he who will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he will be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will strike him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the sons of men;” (2 Samuel 7:12-14, RecVer)

The covenant God made with David reveals God's desire of Him becoming a man and making man becoming Him, in life and in nature but not in the Godhead. But to see this revelation, we need a spirit of wisdom and revelation and be filled unto the full knowledge of Him.

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him,” (Ephesians 1:17, RecVer)

“And to know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19, RecVer)

The seed of David as was covenanted to be designated the Son of God implies the deification of the Son of God in His humanity with the intent of making man God as much as He becoming a man. This thought, though clearly revealed in the Bible, has been neglected intentionally or ignorantly by the majority of believers today. Perhaps, under the devil's blinding. In fact, the majority of believers hated this truth to the core. They could easily accept that God became a man, but vehemently deny man becoming God, which is the very goal of God becoming man. Only the spirit of revelation can open the eyes of the spiritually blind believers to see this profound truth. I myself, because of the religious tradition and shallow religious teachings I had been taught, took two years to clearly understand this truth from the Bible, after much prayer and study of the word. Thank God for the Lord’s mercy that finally opened my eyes!

“Concerning His Son, who came out of the seed of David according to the flesh, Who was designated the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness out of the resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord;” (Romans 1:3-4, RecVer)

To see the revelation is one thing and to experience such a revelation is yet another thing. Therefore, to bring us from revelation to experience, God in His sovereignty works all things together for good for those who love Him. In His working of good, He, as the divine essence in the spirit of the believers, tries to gain every opportunity to spread into the soul of the believers, only if they cooperate, using the outward environment and circumstances. In His workings, He sanctifies and saturates the soul of the believers most practically through the breaking of the outer man that the Spirit mingled with the spirit of man may spread and be expressed through the soul with the mingled spirit as the person. In this way, the believers are being led from revelation to experience, gradually, day by day, until fully conformed to the image of the Firstborn Son of God. This is how God who became man is making man to become God in life and in nature but not in the Godhead.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers;” (Romans 8:28-29, RecVer)

This is the fulfillment and reality of the Davidic covenant God made with David. Today, we are the beneficiaries of this covenant. This is God’s heart's desire, His divine purpose. 

What a blessing that I, along with many believers, am experiencing the reality of God making us all become like Him, in life and in nature, but not in the Godhead!

Ministry of the Word Journey to Pilibhit

Two years ago, a brother came into the church life in Gurugram. In fellowship with him, he encouraged us to visit his hometown, Pilibhit, where his family has been laboring in the gospel for decades. In fact, we did plan to visit but could not due to the pandemic. 

Now after the pandemic, the Lord opened the door for us to visit. One day, a brother called me up to plan for Pilibhit. I took that as the Lord's leading and immediately called up the brother who first introduced the city to me. Then he asked his brother who actually has been laboring in Pilibhit to call me up.  Therefore, in one phone call, we made the plan for the visit.

Though we never met this brother, by faith, we planned the ministry literature journey. When we actually met him on the 9th of April 2022, I realized that the Lord has already prepared him for His move in that part of India. He has been laboring among the local people of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and has a good number of village "pastors" serving together with him. In fact, his mother and father actually died in Pilibhit as they were serving the Lord in that area. Now, this single yet-to-be-married brother is serving with some coordinators with the burden to evangelize 1200 villages all over Pilibhit. So far, they have only covered 200 of them. For three days, we were together and we had a good time of fellowship with him while he was driving us to different places.  This brother, in fact, is in great need of spiritual companionship and fellowship as most of his coworkers are subordinate to him. No one can actually shepherd him as he already functions in the capacity of a shepherd which he took over from his father who now has gone to be with the Lord.

At least on three occasions, I spent a solid time of fellowship with him on seeking, finding, and doing God's swill in his life, his service, and in his marriage. He testified that he never had such a fellowship and thanked me for the fellowship which he felt was the Lord's speaking to him and that he would consider the matter carefully in doing the will of the Lord in everything.

I also fellowshipped with him about being pure in the Lord's work. Any genuine work of the Lord should have its source in God, be carried out in the power of the Holy Spirt, and the goal of such service will be the glory of God. He testified that he was so helped in the matter of the need for purity in serving the Lord and not to do so with natural human resources and strength, and to purely depend on the Lord.

At another time, I fellowship on my personal testimony of how the Lord led me to seek the truth concerning the church, and through the help of the ministry of brother Watchman Nee and Witness Leed how I was helped and shepherded to see, know, and take the stand of the church.

In all these incidents, I believe the Lord actually has been preparing our dear brother; to gain him and perfect him for His testimony in Pilibhit and even be instrumental in leading many seeking believers in different parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to take the stand on the ground of oneness for the Lord's testimony as the local churches wherever they are.

To help him pursue the truth I gifted him the New Testament Recovery Version and some crucial books on the church.  I do believe the Lord will continue to work in him. As he has led us to meet him and fellowship with him, He will work in him and gain him to be a useful vessel to Him for His move in Pilibhit and the nearby villages, towns, and cities.

Lord, raise up the church in Pilibhit.

Ministry of the Word Journey to Bareilly

Bareilly is a city not far from Plilibhit in Uttar Pradesh where we planned to visit for the distribution of the ministry literature. While I was planning and considering the best way to reach Pilibhit, it dawned on me that by flight Bareilly has the Airport and it is only through this city that Philibhit could be reached. Therefore, the burden for Bareilly came up.

In fellowship with my brother, we planned for Bareilly as well but did not have any contact in the city. After a few days of waiting and prayer, we decided to book our flight ticket to Bareilly and meanwhile hope for some opening in Bareilly though our intent was to go to Pilibhit. After a few days, through a phone call, we discovered that there actually were some seekers in the city of Bareilly. In fact, I myself received a call from a brother in Bareilly that if we would visit Bareilly we could stay with his family and that he would even come and pick us up from the airport itself. The Lord was faithful in discovering His seeking ones and introducing them to us.

As we landed in Bareilly for the first time, a brother came to pick us up. Since then, our bonding was established and became stronger and stronger. He gave us hospitality in his house and also invited some seeking families to fellowship with us. As we introduced ourselves and let him know the burden the Lord gave us for the ministry literature introduction and distribution, he made himself available for one whole day. He took us to different people. In the evenings, we have a home meeting in his home. In this way, the Lord has marvelously opened the door in Bareilly.

In fellowship with this brother, a burden for conducting a one-day seminar for the Christian leaders and seekers in the city was also conceived. While we were still there, we fellowshipped and planned for a one-day seminar in the month of May, perhaps on the 3rd, being a public holiday. In this way, the Lord opened up the city and also paved the way for the recovery of His chosen ones.

There are at least three families who are open to the ministry and are also seeking the truth. In our fellowship, we did minister on the truth concerning Christ and the church, and the need for believers to take the stand on the ground of oneness for the building up of the Body of Christ. These families were quite open and none of them seems to be satisfied with the denomination they present are in. Our burden is simply to release the truth and make the ministry available to them. May the Lord open their eyes to see His divine economy and gain these ones of the raising up of the church in Bareilly.

Sensing the need for our host to be shepherded further into the truths, I presented him with some crucial books concerning life, truth, the church, and oneness. Life Lessons in Hindi, I encouraged them to read as a family every night in their family prayer time. 

May the Lord grace them to receive the revelation from God and recover his entire family for His testimony. 

Lord, raise up the church in Bareilly!

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