Life Lesson: Brothers' Fellowship

The Lord speaks in and through the Body. There are times the Lord speaks personally to me in a very personal way for some personal matters, but when he wanted the church to get involved, He revealed His will in His sovereign way. He does this to manifest certain situations so that in fellowship He can move through the Body.  When the Lord speaks and moves in such a way, my simple responsibility is to cooperate with His move and amen whatever He wanted to do. Herein lies the need for self-denial. Once a matter is revealed through the Body which He wanted to deal with in the Body, I only have one choice; to cooperate with the lord in the Body irrespective of my feelings or thoughts or will. 

Two weeks ago, a situation transpired in which the situational manifestation succinctly indicated the need to take an action in two specific matters. Firstly, to deal with a brother who needs proper shepherding in his mental health. In fact, he needs to be restricted from attending any meeting until he is mentally normalized. This is for his own good and the good of the Body. Not that he has been cut off or excommunicated, but only temporarily quarantining him so as not to affect other innocent saints who may not be aware of his mental state. The matter was followed up in a timely manner with a brother taking the responsibility to shepherd him.

Another matter is concerning a brother whom we called for fellowshipped and let him know clearly what the feeling of the Lord expressed through the Body in fellowship in one accord. Though he naturally tried his best to justify his deeds and decided to personally break off an engagement the church had helped him with, we expressed a strong contrary feeling, with a stern warning in love that he may not continue in his own way. Whether he agreed to it or not, the feeling of the Body has been conveyed with a strong emphasis on the need to honor the vow he had made before God and men. Whatever reasons he gave to justify his deeds, we stood firm and warned him, and expressed our strong feeling to him. The rest is up to him, whether to obey or go his way. We have no intention to direct or control anybody as such, but we want to be faithful to God and His word as revealed in the Bible and long only to stand on the ground of maintaining the sanctity of the engagement made. What will transpire of the matter is up to the Lord. Having thus expressed our feelings, we told him to stop all improper, immoral, and sinful affairs other than the person he was already engaged to. And then, we all prayed together for the Lord's mercy and grace that He may shine on each one so that we all see the light of God and obey the fellowship through the supply of life the Lord so graciously supplies.

After this fellowship, I felt so peaceful. The burden that I had been bearing alone for months has been released. In fact, I had been waiting for the perfect time when the matter of concern could be opened up. I did not want to initiate anything on my own but kept the matter to the Lord in prayers until He takes the necessary step. I felt the time had come and that in time, the matters had been fellowshipped with the concerned person. What a relief! What peace!

Now I am peaceful in the Lord concerning the two matters. I trust the Lord in His sovereign way will settle the issues. The common enemy we were fighting is Satan. He is the master of confusion. Now that we have identified the mastermind behind all these ugly episodes, the next step is to stand in the Body in prayer and fellowship and release all the saints from the enemy's further attack.

May the Lord preserve the humanity of all the saints; to be vessels holy, pure, sanctified, and filled with His honor and glory!

My Father, My Son, Blessed Generation!

Jehovah has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron; He will bless those who fear Jehovah, Both small and great. May Jehovah give you increase, Both you and your children.(Psalms 115:12-14, RecVer)

After thirteen years of prayer for the salvation of my family, my whole family got saved one by one, and then finally my father got saved on the thirteenth year of persevering prayers. Thirteen years after my father's baptism, my son believed into the Lord Jesus Christ and took baptism. The Lord graced me in the salvation of my father and my son. For both their salvation I had been graced to pray for their salvation and when the Lord answered my prayers, He further graced me to baptise my father and my son.

The Lord has been mindful of us, and has been blessing us with increase in life, both physically and spiritually. Last Tuesday my father visited us in Gurugram basically for his eye check up for which the Lord also provided the best hospital with all the facilities needed exactly for His eyes treatment. The Lord has used this visit for a family reunion and I sensed that I should deeply treasure this time with my father. Therefore, being led by the Lord, I captured photos of the three of us, my father, myself, and my son. I captioned this memorable photoshot in my WhatsApp status as "My Father, My Son; Three Generation!" Little did I realise that what I posted on my status was readily visible to all my contacts and that they could reply to the status update. Few minutes after my status update, I received a good number of messages replying to my status. One of them caught my attention, a sister whom I shepherded many years ago, an army officer, now a mother of one son, as she quoted a verse from Psalms 115:12-14. I took that as the Lord's speaking to me. Now, I have a new caption of the Lord’s blessing as, "My Father, My Son, Blessed Generation!"

The photo was taken today after the Lord’s Table Meeting in the church in Gurugram. I felt like the Lord has appointed this day for this special moment where I could be captured with my "spiritual children" of my previous and next generation, of the same spiritual heirs and biological heirs too as I have been burdened for both my father and my son's spiritual and physical well being.

I pray that the Lord will continue to bless me and my family for His divine and eternal purpose. I pray that my whole offspring serve only the true and living God all the days of our lives and that the God whom we serve be the God of the Palmeis just like the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. In like manner, the God of Palmei's father, the God of Palmei, and the God of Palmei's son be this God. And may my whole generation serve this living God!

Thank you Lord, for the family You blessed me with!

Need for Next Generation

As I visited the churches in Kerala the past few days, one thing that bothered me is the lack of the young generation in the church life and in the service of the Lord. And one big burden borne out of this visit and observation is the need for our next generation to be preserved in the church life and also be brought into the service of the Lord. 

In the full-time training of the churches in Kerala, there was not even one young brother or sister who is serving full-time. In the churches visitation, the saints were all of the older generations, mostly middle age and older. Even younger saints were hard to find and almost nil. This bothered me and troubled me a lot. If we have to go on this way, all our young ones would be lost in the busy world usurped by Satan. The world seems to have captured the young people. The situation is alarming. Action must be taken now before it is too late.

This observation of the lack of young ones in the church life and in the service of the Lord burdened me to consecrate all my children to serve the Lord full-time if the Lord so wills. I would give the best and highest education possible to all my children and encourage them all to serve the Lord. Firstly, as full-timers, and if not, at least as job-keeping full-time serving ones. May the Lord have mercy on my children and that they be preserved by His grace to serve Him all the days of their lives.

I pray the prayer of Joshua again:

“And if it seems wrong in your sight to serve Jehovah, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve, either the gods from across the River, whom your fathers served, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.” 

(Joshua 24:15, RecVer)

Lord, gain the next generation for Your move and for Your testimony. Lord, preserve and prepare the next generation to prepare your Bride to bring You back. Of course, along with my generation too. Have mercy on us Lord!

A Visit to Marthandam

A couple who has been serving full-time in the literature service resides in Marthandam, a border town of Tamilnadu and Kerala. Since the Lord brought this couple into full-time service, the distribution of the ministry books in Kerala and Tamilnadu intensified. The Lord has been blessing their service and the supply of the ministry of the word has now been regular and timely to all Malayalam speaking saints in the churches in Kerala.

This time, as we came to Trivandrum for an official launch of the New Testament Recovery Version in Malayalam we felt good to pay him a visit. As we visited this family and fellowshipped with them, I could sense their burden and realise their potential in how much they can function in the distribution. They were brought into the church life through the ministry books and they have been distributing the same ministry books to other Christians since then. To such burdened ones, I gave them free hands to do as much as they could and in whatever way possible. I trusted them fully and thanked the Lord for giving me such serving ones to coordinate with. May the Lord preserve them to faithfully and fruitfully be serving in the literature service all the days of their lives.

Though they are from a poor background, they have wisely managed their household well. Though I did not really agree to taking loan for building house, it was their personal choice, out of which they built a house. Though I wanted to help them in paying back their loan, the Lord reminded me that each one has to carry their own load. As they fellowshipped their financial need, my coordinating brother and I felt good to increase their support as they also have been serving faithfully as a couple. 

Above all, the couple has given us the best hospitality within their capacity; providing us the best variety of fish for lovefeast, and gifting us with the seasonal produce of the land: Jackfruit, Banana chips, and honey.

It was a lovely and fruitful visit for both sides, our host and their guests. By the way, a good number of their family members are not yet saved and the village they resides in is filled with unbelievers. Therefore, we also prayed for their household salvation. They have opened their home for the meeting of the church and gave the first floor of their house, two rooms for ministry books godown. May the Lord continue to bless this family for His testimony in His service. 

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!