Fellowship With the Saints in Bilaspur

Whenever we attended the Christian Festival in Madku Dweep-Bilaspur, we used to spend time with the believers who are gathered together as "the church in Bilaspur." This time, we had no plan to visit them, at least for two reasons. One being, our lodging place was not in Bilaspur but in Batapara, nearer to the venue for the Christian Festival. The other being the lack of clarity on the standing of the brothers in Bilaspur with a report of them not being very open for fellowship. Therefore, we had no plan to visit them nor did we have any other plan either. Our schedule was vague, waiting for the Lord’s timely leading.

Last Saturday, the key brother came to visit our bookstall. He had come the day before too when I was still on my way, and as my train was delayed I could not meet him. When I heard that this brother had come and we could not meet him, I thought we truly would miss the fellowship this time. But he came again the next day and we met.

 For two hours, we fellowshipped in front of our stall amidst the noisy, dusty, and crowdy atmosphere. As we were fellowshipping, I exercised my spirit discerning what the Lord wanted me to hear or say or do. This brother had spoken many things about his past experience with some brothers. I just listened and listened, and simply told him that these were the things of the past. But as I asked him about what transpired at the present time, he had no answer. I also directly asked him if he ever rejected a brother in the past sent to visit them, he denied the charge. He also inquired whether we had the plan to visit them this time. I replied that we had no plan. Then, he invited us to visit them. On a second thought, I also checked with my brother, and therefore, we agreed to visit them, "the church in Bilaspur."

 As I prayed to the Lord on Saturday night for the visiting of the saints in Bilaspur on the Lord’s day, the Lord gave me one burden, to help the saints to use the Holy Word for Morning Revival to be revived every day and brought into the fellowship of the Body through the enjoyment of the ministry of the word. As we visited the saints on the Lord’s day, the brothers gave us time to minister the word. As usual, my brother went first, and he released the very burden the Lord gave me with; to help the saints get constituted with the ministry of the word through the pursuing of the Holy Word for Morning Revival.

The burden was clear, the need for re-education to be constituted with the truth after coimg out of Babylon to express the Lord according to His purpose. We used the book of Ezra and Nehemiah and ministered the timely word to help educate the saints and the practical way to do so by coordination and all the saints functioning. 

“And all the people gathered as one man in the open area that was before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read in it before the open area that was before the Water Gate from first light until midday in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a wooden platform that had been made for that purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Uriah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah at his right hand; and at his left hand, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah and Hashum and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people); and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed Jehovah the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites helped the people understand the law; and the people stood in their place. And they read in the book, in the law of God, interpreting and giving the sense, so that they understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who helped the people understand said to all the people, This day is holy unto Jehovah your God; do not mourn or weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, Go your way; eat the fat, and drink the sweet wine, and send portions to him for whom nothing has been prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Be quiet, for the day is holy; and do not be grieved. And all the people went their way to eat and to drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” (Nehemiah 8:1-12, RecVer)

After the Lord’s day meeting, we also had a time of fellowship on The Genuine Ground of Oneness using the history of Israel and the Lord’s desire for oneness and emphatically made clear the need for fellowship in the Body of Christ. Local administrative matters may be local indeed, but fellowship must be universal. The brothers readily agreed and even decided to visit the churches in Delhi and Gurugram. Besides, we also helped the brothers with life practices of calling upon the Lord’s name and pray-reading the word of God. 

The next day we had a morning time touring Bilaspur city, breakfast at Indian Coffee House, and a visit to a city park. On the way, we had a wonderful time of fellowship and blending. Then we left for our next destination. 

As a result of this visit and short while fellowship with the key brothers, many unseen distances between us were removed and a cloudy situation among us was cleared off. We had much peace concerning the saints in Bilapsur now. Much peace and freedom have filled us inwardly. I believe, the Lord is recovering His remnants and His testimony in this city.

Lord, recovering Your lampstand in Bilaspur!

Masih Mela 2023

Christian Festival or Masih Mela has been held annually at an islet called Madku Dweep. It was here that many Christian gathered together for a week of "feasting". Meetings were held with various Christian groups singing and various ministers ministering the word of God. Together with these, a good number of Christian publishers and distributors exhibited their publications, mostly for sales and some for free distribution. It was here that we also met a good number of seeking Christians who came to discover us and the ministry literature. It was also here that a few Christian brothers who received and read the ministry books also started practising the church life according to their understanding of the truth. 

This time, I and my brother participated in the distribution. This event also became a key deciding point for us to consider our plan to visit some seeking groups in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh whom we first met them in the same event a couple of years ago. Thank the Lord for this beachhead He has prepared for His move, especially in North India!

This time, three important meetings transpired in this event. First, a brother from Bilaspur whom we met through the same event many years ago came to fellowship with us. The two hour long fellowship became a turning point for us and them in our fellowship with him and "the church in Bilaspur". In fact, he invited us to visit them after the festival which we did, and had a wonderful time of fellowship with all the saints who meets as the local church.

Second, five brothers came form Khariar Road, Odisha for fellowship as they realised that we would not be visiting them this time. In a short while fellowship, Oriya translation matter was considered and the matter was decided to be executed the following week. A few doubts on practical matters were cleared. It was indeed a very fruitful meeting.

Thirdly, we had a time of fellowship with a group of brothers from Madhya Pradesh where we finalised on what to do during our three days visit to their home town Betul and the neighbouring towns and villages.

Above all, we also met a good number of seeking brothers who came to purchase the ministry books. As usual, after reading the ministry books, the Lord would stir up some of them to even take a step further to practice the truth they have learned and will definitely bring us into fellowship.

This Christian Festival was a good sowing ground for the ministry of the word to many brothers and sisters all over North India. As the "seeds" have been shown, we now await the sprouting, growing, and reaping of ministry.

Lord, cause the growth of the seeds sown and casue it to bear a hundred fold fruit.

A Call to Confirm

Yearly, there is a Christian Festival(Masih Mela) conducted in a small island called Madku Dweep. As distributor of the ministry of word, we used to participate in this week-long festival. To participate in this, I just arrived Batapara where our hotel stay was booked. The train I boarded was delayed by one and half hour. I had not eaten dinner the previous day nor lunch for the day. I also urgently wanted to use the loo and wanted to bath after a long train journey. Therefore, I decided to stay back in the hotel as I thought it was too late to attend the festival for the day.

But I received a phone call from my brother inquring if I would attend the festival where we exhibited the ministry books in Hindi. After much consideration, I gave up my plan for eating, bathing, and staying back for the day. I hired an auto rickshaw and went straight to the venue. The moment I arrived the venue I ate lunch and was able to meet with seeking believers who visited our stall.

A couple who has been serving the Lord in Bilaspur visited our stall. As our brothers spoke to them, I felt the need to follow up and continued to speak, introducing the Holy Bible Recovery Version. We had a wonderful time of fellowship, wetting their appetite for the word of God. Then a meeting with another newly married couple, introducing the ministry literature, followed by a few others. In this way, my not staying back was a salvation. Had I stayed back as I planned, I would have missed all these meetings with seekers. 

Thank the Lord for the living in the Body where a brother's call is a leading for me to follow the Lord. When we are not clear, we have to listen to the Body through which the Lord speaks. 

Praise the Lord for the phone call that made me clear of what I should do when I was not clear. 

Pray and listen to the Body, for the Lord speaks through His Body too.

Zoe, Zoe, Zoe (Life, Life, Life)

One of the greatest truth in the Bible is God’s creation of man with a human spirit, God becoming the Spirit, man believing into the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God regenerating the human spirit and indwelling his spirit that the regenerated man lives and expresses God. This is God’s mysterious yet wonderful deed. What a blessing to be one of such a regenerated man!

The divine life of God is Zoe which He imparted when we first believed into the Lord Jesus Christ, resulting in our spirit becoming life, making our spirit Zoe. Since then, as we live by the spirit, gradually even our mind will become life, making our mind Zoe. And finally, as we grow, we will transform unto maturity even to give life to our mortal bodies. The best way to turn to the spirit and live by the spirit is to pray; to absorb God and express God, which will issue in the building up of the Body of Christ. 

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6, RecVer)

“But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.” (Romans 8:10-11, RecVer)

In this way, our entire tripartite being will become life; life in the spirit, Iife in the soul, and life in the Body. Zoe, Zoe, and Zoe!

However, we need to be continually under the law of the Spirit of life.

“For the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2, RecVer)

The secret of living a Christ life is to live according to the spirit. Only in such a living in the spirit, we can live a normal Christian life and fulfill the righteous requirement of the law.

“That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit.” (Romans 8:4, RecVer)

The crucial exercise required of a Christian is to set our mind in the spirit. It is in what we set our mind on, that we live out. Setting our mind on the flesh will result in fleshly living, setting our mind on the spirit will result in a living by the spirit, the mingled spirit.

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6, RecVer)

Therefore, we must take heed to our spirit and exercise our spirit to live a godly life according to the spirit.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25, RecVer)

“But did He not make them one? And the remnant of the Spirit was His. And why the one? He sought the seed of God. Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one be treacherous to the wife of his youth.” (Malachi 2:15, RecVer)

“But the profane and old-womanish myths refuse, and exercise yourself unto godliness. For bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the present life and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8, RecVer)

This is the wonderful life God has planned for man. Living the normal Christian life with our entire tripartite being filled with the life; Zoe in the spirit, Zoe in the soul, and Zoe in the body. Life, life, and life!

Reading the Holy Bible

The Lord has been gracing me since my childhood to read the Holy Bible. My grandfather had taught me to read the Bible everyday as he himself read it everyday, morning and evening, whenever he was not engaged with any important official or domestic works. The spirit of reading the word of God has passed me since then. Bible reading has thus become a part of my daily life. I simply cannot live my life or pass a day without reading the word of God. I reckon this as special gift from God and one of the physical blessings the good God has bestowed upon me. Thank You God for Your spoken and written word!

I do not make Bible reading a law or a thing sof legality, but a lifestyle. If it were a law, I would have to keep it with struggles, perhaps. But since it has been a lifestyle it just comes along and gets with my daily living. I never felt any struggle whatsoever, rather I enjoyed it and received the supply of life through my coming to the word of God. It is like eating my daily meals; breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with the many snacks in between. I enjoy my food, my daily manna, my heavenly, spiritual, and divine food.

“How sweet are Your words to my taste! Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I gain understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:103-105, RecVer)

Last year December 2022, I completed reading the entire Bible 40(forty) times. Initially, I thought to slow down and be satisfied with reading through the Bible just once in a year. But, He gradually enlightened to me see my need for more of His words. Why only once when I can do much more? The more I can read, the better. Therefore, I have the heart to be able to read the Holy Bible at least a 100(hundred) times in my lifetime, if the Lord so wills. I trust the Lord will honor this burden and will grace me again to score a century in reading His word. 

By the way, I find no better book to read in the world than the Holy Bible. I find no better time to invest on anything other than on reading the Holy Bible. Of course, as I read, I turned to my spirit and use the word of God to pray back to God. I find it very enjoyable and easy to touch God through His word. The best prayer I could offer to God is simply pray back His words as I read His words and through His words He speaks to me. The living word of God on earth has become my language and medium to fellowship with my living God in heaven. No wonder, the Pslamists had declared their love for the word of God in their Old Testament tone as they were at that time. Now, in the New Testament time, I do the same in the new way, through the Spirit anointing the written word turning it into the living word. What a blessing!

After forty times of reading the Holy Bible, the Lord has taught me some very effective ways of reading His word. He graces me to directly enter into His thoughts through the spirit of wisdom and revelation and enlightens the eyes of my heart to know Him, His will, and His way. I do use the help of other writings, exposition, lights and revelations. 

“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, The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,” (Ephesians 1:17-18, RecVer)

As long as the Lord give me good eyes to read, sober mind to understand, and good health to be able to read, I would take His grace and read and eat His words all the days of my life. Do grace me Lord.

Lord, thank You for Your Holy Bible! Amen.

Ministry of the Word to North and Middle Andaman

The journey to North Adaman was not in our plan, but the Lord opened the door for us, and it was an impromptu plan in sweet coordination. For this trip, we had to start as early as 3 AM to access the first convoy as the entire reserved island of the Jawara tribal had to be crossed with full security. Then, we had to cross over to other island by boat as bridge was still under construction. Then we stopped over at Betapur and Rangat, and finally arrived Mayabunder at about 10:30 PM just for night stay at a hotel. The entire trip took us about 20 hours. Of course, in two places we had a gathering with the Christian leaders.

Belapur

A group of Tamil speaking brothers were laboring among the local Hindi speaking islanders. Though Hindi was not their mother tongue, they learned and were able to minister fluently in Hindi. To them, the ministry literature was introduced and distributed. All the pastor placed order for Tamil New Testament Recovery Version.

Rangat

A Christian leaders gathering was arranged and we introduced the ministry literature in the meeting hall of a full-time serving brother. To my surprise, almost all of them paid the price to buy the ministry books. One key Methodist pastor was not able to come for the meeting, therefore, we visited him without any appointment. But as we introduced the ministry books, he was so interested and purchased all the English books available along with an order for the Holy Bible Recovery Version.

Mayabunder 

A gathering for just an hour was arranged for the Christian leaders as we had to rush back well in time to catch the 2 PM convoy. So we briefly and quickly introduced the ministry literature. I was very encouraged by the positive response of all the brothers. They all purchased the ministry books and paid them in ready cash. The Lord surely remembered their hunger and thirst for the healthy teaching and supplied them with the riches of the ministry of the word.

To the Middle and North Andaman too, the Lord has his way to send forth His light and His truth that His people may be led to His holy mountain and His holy tabernacles.

To this remote and isolated islands, the ministry of the word has arrived. Since many years ago, the gospel of grace has been preached here, now the truth of the gospel of the kingdom of God has come. May the Lord lead His people further into the full knowledge of the truth!

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4, RecVer)

Ministering the Word in Port Blair

On the evening of the ministry books introduction and distribution in Port Blair last Thursday, a brother came to me and enquired more about the books. He has been so burdened to preach the gospel among the local people in the island and shared to me his vision in serving the Lord. He also said something special like this, not verbatim though, "After listening to your speaking, something within me is telling me to talk to you and invite you to minister the word in the small church I am taking care." Immediately, I knew it was from the Lord and I accepted the invitation. Later, I fellowshipped with my brother and we both felt good to visit his small church, the fruit of his labor for over fifteen years.

On the Lord’s day morning, as usual, my brother ministered the word on The Purpose of Man and I followed to minister on Household Salvation, how the purpose of man created by God can be fulfilled with household salvation promised by God. After the meeting, the believers testified of how much blessed they were with the word. The key brother and his wife invited us for dinner fellowship, and the brother volunteered to help us in driving us around to meet the few more Christian leaders as our last sprint for this visit. Then, we went for some shopping and finally ended the day with a lovefeast on a sumptuous meal.

An AG pastor who first had a doubt about the ministry was so supplied when we actually met and introduced the ministry books with the Holy Bible Recovery Version. After the meeting, he exclaimed that all his doubts were fully cleared and even invited us to minister to his congregation on the Lord’s day. The timing of this meeting was right after the one who invited us first. Therefore, we ministered the word to two congregations in Port Blair last Lord’s day. 

To this group, our ministering the word was more elaborate as this is one of the big and famous groups. After my brother spoke the messages on the meaning of human life, calling upon the Lord, and loving the Lord, I followed suit by continuing the burden with the importance of reading and eating the word of God daily for growth in life. Verse by verse, I helped the congregation to see the vision of Christ as the bread of God that believers should eat daily with emphasis on John 6:31-57, 63.

“As the living Father has sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me.” (John 6:57, RecVer)

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” (John 6:63, RecVer)

The responses of the entire congregation was very encouraging, especially the key pastor who declared to the enitre congregation, "Jesus said, eat me!" As I encouraged every one to read the Bible everyday and perhaps a gift for those who complete reading the Bible in a year once, a gift to be given, the pastor echoed the same and made an announcement for a Bible reading reward scheme. 

May the word of God ministered bear a hundred fold fruit one day. As He sent forth His light and His truth, may He also recover His remnants and lead them to His holy mountain and holy tabernacles.