Malayalam New Testament Recovery Version

Last weekend, we were in Kerala for the formal launch and introduction of the New Testament Recovery Version in Malayalam. Though the translation of the New Testament directly from Greek to Malayalam was completed, proofread, printed and distributed in 2022, there were some reservation among some Malayalam speaking brothers and sisters. Therefore, the need to formally introduce this new translation arose. In fellowship, the Lord has led us through and blessed the introduction and formal launching of it in different occasions.

First, on the 3rd of March at the leading brothers training for the churches in Kerala at Neyanttinkara, Trivandrum; then on the 5th of March in a Blending Meeting for the churches in South Kerala at the same venue; and finally in Muvattupuzha for the churches in Central and North Kerala, both physically and online meeting.

The leading brothers in Kerala and the coworkers in India gave us their right hand of fellowship and coordinated with us for the formal introduction and launch of the New Testament Recovery Version in Malayalam. Thank the Lord for His blessing and the churches' coordination to make this a success! The oneness and the coordination itself is the blessing!

The New Testament Recovery Version was translated and printed in four Indian languages, but formal launch was done in Mizo and Malayalam due to the situation of the people speaking these languages. For Mizo, the general Christian population would not accept a new translation unless approved by the so called Bible translation authority. Therfore, we had to introduce and launch it official. In case of Malayalam, there were certain Malayalam speaking believers who were resistant to a new translation as they stick themselves to the old BSI Version. So to clarify the misconception about the translation, we had to formally fellowship with the leading brothers and formally launch the New Testament Recovery Version in Malayalam.

The Lord was with us in all the presentations and the brothers and sisters coordinated with us in all the practical arrangement. It was a wonderful experience altogether and the Lord is beginning a new move among the saints in the churches in Kerala.  

May the Lord continue to bless the reading of this new New Testament in Malayalam and reconstitute the saints with the healthy teaching of the word of God. The purification and sanctification work among the saints are being carried out by bringing the saints into the properly translated and interpreted word of God. 

Lord bless the saints in the churches in Kerala and bless your move among the Malayalam speaking Christians in Kerala!

Time with Family

Time with my family is one thing I treasure very much. I do this whenever I am at home by gathering all my family members for family prayer. I even made family prayer top priority in my family life. I would sacrifice other things just for this. Even if I were traveling, I still called home over the phone for family prayer. It is only the Lord that can build my family and I cooperate with Him by paying the price to gather all family members for family prayer time everyday. In addition, I also repeatedly remind all my family members for daily personal prayer time at least for half an hour. If I were at home I would take my children, especially my son, to the park for prayer and for walking.

Yesterday, the 27th of February, was my eldest daughter's 15th birthday. I took my family to the restaurant chosen by my daughter, her favourite KFC and Pizza Hut combination. I just made all of them happy over Pizzas, Burgers, French Fries and carbonated drinks. That was how I cherished them.

In the night after family prayer before we slept, I spent personal time with all my three children, one by one, just to talk to them and let them talk to me. Of course, I also shared my burden concerning their living, church life, studies, character, discipline, etc. In a fatherly care with a loving heart, I fellowshipped with them. And they all understood my heart towards them and positively responded to my fellowship. I praise and worship the Lord for His great grace and marvelous mercy upon our family.

One night, after the family prayer time, I spent a time of fellowship with all my cousin brothers, niece, my wife and my children, and made them realise that we are in Gurugram for the Lord’s purpose only; for the Lord’s testimony, for the church life, for the literature service, and for the Lord’s move. This is and must always be our top priority. All things else, including education and health are secondary. I even warned them that we all ought to be faithful to the Lord’s calling and live a normal Christian life for the church life. Having fellowshipped all these, I fully look to the Lord for His grace that all these practical fellowship would be our daily living.

One who manages well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity (But if one does not know how to manage his own house, how will he care for the church of God?);

(1 Timothy 3:4-5, RecVer)

May the Lord grace my family to be a family of His heart's desire for His testimony. May the Lord grace me to manage my own house well.

Continuous Dispensing

On the 21st of February, I just came back from a long ministry literature journey. And there awaited me, three days of training and three days of conference, after which another journey I have to undertake. I knew this would happen while I was back from the last journey. Therefore, in the train itself, I did whatever need to be done so that I could fully be available to receive the Lord's divine dispensing again.

For three days I had the opportunity to exercise to join a training in New Delhi where the first session began at 6:00 AM in the morning till 7:00 PM in the evening.  During these three days, I opened myself to Lord for His divine work within me again to receive the Lord's continual dispensing. 

The brothers' ministering of the word was on the living and working out of the New Jerusalem where our Christian life and church life today should be according to the standard of the New Jerusalem.  The Lord's speaking was so deep and it touched my inward being and the attitude I have towards the Lord and my daily living for the church life. One key point that struck me was, "What is the nature of my work? Am I a part of the shining golden lampstand in reality?" Any work acceptable to the Lord must be according to God's divine nature. Therefore, the nature of the work that I do must be according to God's divine nature and the life that I live must be Christ Himself!

Through which He has granted to us precious and exceedingly great promises that through these you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world by lust. 2Peter 1:4

As children of God, our Father would often discipline us.

For they disciplined for a few days as it seemed good to them; but He, for what is profitable that we might partake of His holiness. Hebrews 12:10

The goal of our life and goal should be the New Jerusalem. All our living and doing should be measured according to the standard of the New Jerusalem. Otherwise, our living and work would not be pleasing to God our father.

For another foundation no one is able to lay besides that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stubble, the work of each will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because it is revealed by fire, and the fire itself will prove each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built upon the foundation remains, he will receive a reward; If anyone’s work is consumed, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.1 Corinthians 3:11-15

We are God's fellow workers, and we must do the work of God according to God, building upon the foundation with gold, silver, and precious stones which is the experience of the Divine Trinity!

O how short I am as I measure myself with the standard that God desires. Nonetheless, I am not the one working the work of the Lord but the Lord Himself working out His work in me and through me as His fellow worker. I am God's coworker, altogether with many fellows coworkers in the Lord's vineyard.

As I was so impressed by the message, I began to compose a hymn based on the messages released by the speaking brothers, a hymn on the New Jerusalem, not merely the truth as revealed in the Bible but how the New Jerusalem can be experienced and enjoyed by me along with others in the church life today.

Right after the training, there was a conference on the burden of making ourselves ready for the Lord's coming back. The speaking brothers gave five practical ways of preparation. 

By loving the Lord and His appearance in contrast to loving the present age and turning away from the apostles' teaching and work.

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day, and not only me but also all those who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

For Demas has abandoned me, having loved the present age, and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia. 2 Timothy 4:10

By growing in life unto maturity, awaiting the Lord's coming with longsuffering with endurance.

Therefore be long-suffering, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer eagerly awaits the precious fruit of the earth, exercising long-suffering over it until it receives the early and late rain. James 5:7

For this, I must pursue the growth in life until I am fully mature.

By giving heed to the prophetic word.

And we have the prophetic word made more firm, to which you do well to give heed as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19

It is one thing to know the prophecies like the Pharisees and the scribes in Jerusalem who knew that the Lord Jesus Christ would be born in Betheleme but none of them sought for the Lord in reality. But the magi from the far east came all the way, paying the price and giving heed to the prophetic word which enabled them to see the Lord in reality. 

My attitude toward the Lord should be full of love; my exercise should be to watch, pray, and obey the Lord's word; my living should be sanctified and holy so that I would be fully prepared to meet the Lord in His coming again. I should be joyfully able to say, "Come, Lord Jesus!" 

He who testifies these things says, Yes, I come quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20

By being a faithful and prudent slave; in life being a holy virgin to the Lord filled with the Spirit and in service faithful and prudent.

Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Matthew 24:45-46

By having a revived living and labor in shepherding. I must daily be renewed daily through:

The cross (2 Cor. 4:10-12, 16-18), 

Always bearing about in the body the putting to death of Jesus that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who are alive are always being delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death operates in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:10

The Holy Spirit 

Not out of works in righteousness which we did but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

The exercise of my mingled spirit 

And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (Eph. 4:23) 

And by the cleansing of the water in the word.

That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word. (Eph. 5:26)

Today, we can be revived and be overcomers as the Lord can make us overcomers as He overcame.

He who overcomes, to him I will give to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21

In these ways, we can make ourselves ready and be prepared to meet the Lord. This is the best way to fulfill the prophecy:

Therefore this is what I will do to you, O Israel;  And because I will do this to you,  Prepare to meet your God, O Israel. Amos 4:12

I have been blessed to be under the continuous divine dispensing of the Divine Trinity whether I travel or am at home.  Praise the Lord!

Ministry Journey to Betul, Madhya Pradesh

Early morning at about 2 AM our train arrive at Ghoradongri for two days visit to Betul district, Madhya Pradesh. This trip was planed in the our last trip to the same localities. The Lord has prepared a group of believers through a brother for us to minister the word. We have been conducting online meetings over a year for these group of believers. This time, our burden is to strengthen the key brothers and pave the way for further recovery of the Lord’s move in Madhya Pradesh. 

Sarni

In the home of a brother we were accommodated for two days. We enjoyed a wonderful hospitality from our host. At the same time, we prayed that our visitation may bring a breakthrough in their inward being for the Lord’s testimony. To the key brother and sister, I gifted some crucial ministry books.

Bhados

We had two sessions of ministering the word in a farmhouse used as a meeting hall. The burden released was on six important items. Breathing the Lord daily by calling His name for a spiritual breath, spending time with the Lord and inquiring in His presence as our spiritual drink, reading and praying His word eating it as our spiritual food, praying for the household salvation, and clearing the past after we were saved. All these are for the building up of the Body of Christ, the church. To the key brother, I gifted some crucial ministry books.

Aalampur 

New believers from Gentile background, about twelve of them, have been under the shepherding of our brothers. This time we ministered to them the need for loving the Lord and prayed for them. They were relatively purer than other believers who have been so much influenced by today's religiosity. This group has a hope of being recovered to take the stand for the Lord’s testimony. 

Betul

A serving sister who proclaimed herself to be Prophetess has been running a small Pentecostal Christian group. To this, we ministered the basic elements of the Christian life; God’s creation of man as a vessel, the need to be filled with the Lord by calling upon the name of the Lord, the preciousness of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the need to be an open vessel, emptied and hungry to be filled with the Lord every time we come before the Lord.

One day we had a time of visiting a Dam in Sarni with some sightseeing spots. It was a time of relaxation and blending with the brother who took us around. We also enjoyed a time of lovefeast over lunch and dinner followed by some practical fellowship and prayer.

Our departure from this place was also early morning about 3:30 AM, the same time we arrived at the town two days ago. Despite odd timings, the believers took care of us so well. May the Lord bless them with Himself.

In two places where we ministered the word, we saw a clear manifestation of evil possesion on a man and a women. When there was such a manifestation, I asked the devil to leave the possessed person in the name of Jesus, without raising any voice but deep within my spirit. As the evil spirit left, we asked them to call upon the name of the Lord. This was a good test case for the ministry of the word being of God or not. Thank God, it was proven in our eyes what the Lord has been doing even through us. Glory be to God!

Lord, gain Your remnants and raise up Your testimony in Madhya Pradesh soon!

Marvelous Brotherly Fellowship

Today morning I sent a text message to two brothers with whom I have been coordinating for the ministry journey to Champa and Korba.

Dear Brothers(J--- and B---)

Today afternoon Br. J--- fellowshipped about the possibility of meeting Br. R-- K--. After Br. J--- left, Br.A--- and I had a time of fellowship on this regard and he felt good about setting things right between him and R-- K--. He asked me to fellowship with R-- K-- which I did, and both are willing to meet and fellowship. Therefore, today Monday, 20th Feb, Br. A--- and I will visit Br. R-- K-- at his house in Bilaspur.

Please pray for the fellowship that the peace of Christ may arbitrate in their hearts and gain them and all the churches and the saints under their shepherding care for His economy.

As I spent time in the word of God today morning, praying and considering, the Lord gave me a specific word for today's fellowship with the brothers.

“Do not call to mind the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Indeed, I am doing a new thing; It will now spring forth; Do you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19, RecVer)

These verses gave me an inward assurance from the Lord concerning what He desires to do among the brothers in Chhattisgarh. 

After breakfast at Champa, a brother and I drove to Bilaspur, enjoying a wonderful time of fellowship all the way and also enjoyed a radio Life-study message on the need to receive the flowing in of the living water and the flowing out of life to others in the form of gospel preaching and shepherding.

Two leading brothers of the church in Bilaspur were already waiting for us as we arrived at the brother's home for fellowship. Without any waste of time, I released the burden the Lord gave me. I ministered on the oneness of the Body of Christ and the Lord’s desire in gaining the oneness and the building up of the Body of Christ using relevant Bible verses. Then, I quoted the promise the Lord gave me today morning and encouraged them to forget all the past and start a new beginning. As I asked them to open up and speak, they all testified that they had nothing within anymore and the misunderstanding among them had been cleared up. They testifed that they had also been praying for the recovery of oneness among them which the Lord did today after seven years of divisionand separation. The Lord is the Lord and He has His way of recovering His testimony among His remnants! Then we all prayed one by one and thanked the Lord for His move in and among us for His testimony!

After this marvelous and wonderful fellowship, we enjoyed a lovefeast together and I left to board my train just on time at Bilaspur railway station. As I was on the train, for about an hour I was awestruck, marveling at the way the Lord did His work among the brothers. I had no words, but simply thanked and worship Him who is the only true and unique one living God.

Praise the Lord for His move in and among the brothers! May the Lord preserve the oneness among them all unto the building up of the Body of Christ!

Salvation of a Sibling

Yesterday night, I had a time of fellowship with a brother's family, ministering the word of God mainly to his children who were not clear about their salvation. To me, this was a matter of helping them with the relevant portion of the word of God.

As we began, I asked the two children if they were Christians. To my surprise, they replied on the negative. When asking the reason for their answer, I realised that they need help on the proper understanding of the word of God. Therefore, I led them to read Acts 9, how Saul got saved. Besides, I also quoted verses on the proof of salvation based on the written word of God, the witness of the Spirit, and the proof of love foe the brothersfor those who genuinely believe into the Lord Jesus Christ. After all these Bible verses reading and explanation, the Lord opened up their mind to understand the word of God and they realised that they were actually saved because they believed genuinely into the Lord Jesus Christ!

“The opening of Your words gives light, Imparting understanding to the simple.” (Psalms 119:130, RecVer)

Then I sensed the need to help them with the seven significances of baptism with Bible verses. We read them all one by one. After all the reading of the word of God, their visage changed. When I asked the same question again if there were Christians, they replied in the affirmative with assurance and excitement!

After I ministered the word and released my burden, I left the matter of their decision to be baptised to them. Later, after dinner, the son came and confirmed to me his decision to be baptised. 

Today morning, I spent time with the son who was to be baptised helping him call upon the Lord’s name together with me and pray-reading four Bible verses.

“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:16, RecVer)

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name,” (John 1:12, RecVer)

“That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;” (Romans 10:9, RecVer)

“For “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”” (Romans 10:13, RecVer)

Later the daughter came and confirmed to me her decision to be baptised too. Therefore, I prayed with her and helped her to pray-read the above verses. Then, we headed for baptism in the meeting hall of the church in Champa. 

After ministering the word on baptism using a couple of verses, I requesed the two children to pray, followed by their father and mother too, which they did with much joy and thankfulness to the Lord for this day. Afetr the prayers, the brother and I coordinated to baptise them as the church in Champa into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

Later over breakfast, the two newly baptised brother and sister testified of the joy they enjoyed after the fellowship last night on salvation and how the opening of the word gave them light! Out of the joy of salvation the Lord blessed them with, they testified they were not even able to sleep properly last night. Today morning after their water baptism, they were even more joyful! In fact, their father and mother were even more joyful! For their prayers for many years have finally been answered at the right time today!

As a spiritual new beginning present, I have ordered for them a copy each of the New Testament Recovery Version in English which I encouraged them to read daily.

This day, the 29th February 2023, may as well be remembered especially as their spiritual birthday!

May the Lord preserve these young ones to love Him more and more each day, and grow unto full maturity.

Ministry Journey to Chhattisgarh

“Now after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brothers in every city in which we announced the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” (Acts 15:36, RecVer)

In fellowship and coordination, three of us brothers came to visit the church in Champa last week, to meet with the saints and the leading brothers. We had three meetings with the saints and released the burden on God’s economy with the emphasis on the Triune God dispensing Himself into the tripartite man, the way to enjoy the Lord’s dispensing as an open vessel by calling upon the Lord’s name, eating His words day by day, emphasing on the trunk of God’s economy and not being distracted by various "branches and leaves." In all the meetings, we ourselves were in one accord, following the Lord’s inner leading, and ministered the word with the  exercise of our spirit. I personally enjoyed the Lord’s inner flow of life among us and through us.

On Saturday, we visited the saints in Korba and continued our fellowship on the same burden, on the line of God’s economy. The saints were so much helped as they themselves testified that they were made clear of certain doubts on the truth through our face to face fellowship. With much joy, we enjoyed feasting together after the meeting. On our way back to Champa we visited a couple whom the Lord recovered after almost a year of separation. 

On the Lord’s day in Champa, we ministered on the significance of the Lord’s Table Meeting emphasising on the oneness of the Body of Christ signified by the one bread and warning against the division that could creep in through "Jeroboams." We also touched that the local churches are just the procedure and the goal is the one unique Body of Christ. Therefore, the need for fellowship among the local churches and blending with one another for the building up of the Body of Christ was also made known to the saints. 

In all the fellowship, we enjoyed the inward peace of the Lord and the sweet flow of life without any hindrances within. We had much freedom within to minister whatever the Lord wanted us to. This is a sure sign of the Lord’s anointing upon us and His confirmation of His desire to recover His remnants into the fellowship of the Body of Christ. Having been through these all, we commit the saints and the local churches to the Lord, the Head of the Body. As the Son of Man standing in the midst of the golden lampstands, He will carry out His work of trimming the burnt wicks and supply the oil for the churches shining.

Lord, may You continue to move in and among all the saints especially among the brothers for the full recovery of Your testimony in Chattisgarh!