Ministry of the Word to Rewari and Jhajjar

A bother who was brought to salvation eleven years ago and now living in Jhajjar is one of the key contacts that led us to this city. Geographically, to travel from Gurugram to Jhajjar it was convenient to pass through Rewari, another important city. Therefore, Rewari came into the distribution plan. Though we did not have many contacts in this city, we somehow got a number from Rhema free distribution database. So our only meeting in Rewari was with this one brother who is a Peon in a Government college. He was also our first contact in the city and we were glad to preach the gospel and fellowship with him concerning the ministry literature. After praying for the city and also this brother we left for Jhajjar.

In Jhajjar, our brother welcomed us to his residence cum school. It was a meeting after many years. In fact, I met him after he has become a father of two children. Professionally, he has become very busy and successful. But spiritually, he has not been shepherded properly. At least I was glad that his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is still going on. He still continues to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus and trust in the Lord. Despite his wife, family, and the people surrounding him, his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is consistent. His need now is to move forward and grow in the divine life to the extent that he openly confesses his faith in the Lord and also stands for the Lord's testimony openly in Jhajjar. Our brother has also invited us to visit him at least once in a month for fellowship. 

He also ran a restaurant where he treated us to his specialty for dinner. And after that, I met his family, his children, and we had a prayer in his office. For the night stay he accommodated us in a very nice hotel in the city.

The next day, we had a meeting with a group of Christian leaders. Initially, they were all very suspicious of the ministry. As there had been, in the past, some Christian groups came to the city and spread a wrong teaching extrabiblical to the Bible. Moreover, there were frequent persecutions in the city from the Gentiles. Thereafter, we understood fully the reason why they had to treat us in a cautious way in the beginning. 

But when we started introducing the ministry literature and showed the truth of the Bible through the literature, they began to see the depth of the word of God. And how orthodox we have been in our teaching and they opened up to us. They even thanked us for the wonderful Christian literature we introduced to the city. Our meeting became very fruitful. It cleared off all misunderstandings, and now they were open to the ministry. They received the ministry books. Besides, we also ministered on the truth concerning the church which really touched some of them deeply. In all our fellowship we used relevant Bible verses to back up the words we ministered.  In fact, they also gave us some contacts that we could meet in another part of Haryana. 

So having thus released our burden in Jhajjar, we left for Bhiwani. 

May the Lord gain His remnants for His testimony in Jhajjar!

Experiencing Birth Pangs

The last week of last month and the beginning of this month were very hectic for me. Training after training, fellowship after fellowship, and then I had to travel for the ministry of the word literature journey to different places. I had taken three ministry trips in the last three weeks to four states of India, Haryana, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.

One thing common before each trip was an experience of “birth pangs.” As a mother-to-be experienced birth pangs before delivering a child, the joy of the child to be born overcame the pain she went through. In fact, the joy of a newborn child surpasses that of the temporary birth pang, however painful it may be. In a similar manner, I was in a very very tight schedule, overloaded with responsibility related to official work, church, and family matters. Besides, I also experience a bodily weakness which I thought would be a reasonable excuse to just cancel all the trips and take good care of my health. But as I went through the tough "birth pangs," spiritually, psychologically, and physically, the Lord has been gracing me and telling me deep within, that "everything will be alright." There was a firm promise within that the Lord will lead me through the birth pangs. True to His promise, the Lord led me through the spiritual birth pangs, and I could see the result of the ministry literature journey that followed the birth pangs.

Before the trip to a different part of Haryana, I was sick partially and had pain in my hand. I could not even lift up my hand to comb my hair and was loaded with responsibilities. But miraculously, on the day I was to leave for the trip, I found myself completely healed! Even before we could start the trip I was still busy with many official and home responsibilities. I literally did not even have time to pack my luggage until the very last hour before we actually started. It was an intense pressure within, at times, tempting me to completely call off the trip or postpone it for another time. But the Lord led me through the birth pangs, and the result was marvelous! The Lord led us to visit 14 new cities, towns, and villages for the ministry of the word!

As I was considering how to undertake the tour, one night while I was praying the Lord spoke to me to use my Salon Alto Maruti car. I generally would not take my car for a long journey. But this time, through the Lord’s speaking I was confirmed to use the car. 

Before Jalandhar trip, my schedule became so tight and my body was feeling a little weak. I decided that if possible I would cancel the trip. But since I already gave my word to a brother who is to get married in Jalandhar and that he had invited me to attend the wedding, I would not disappoint him and take back my words. Though I had to travel to another state right after this visit to Jalandhar, I still decided by faith to keep my word and despite many other responsibilities amidst physical weaknesses, I trusted the Lord and He led me through. Therefore, I could attend his wedding and also meet with some seeking believers who received much supply through the ministry of the word.

Before the trip to Jharkhand too, I had to discharge my responsibility as a family man to buy all the household needs and also settle urgent official matters at hand. Besides, the train ticket I booked was only on WL(Waiting List). I left the matter to the Lord that in case my ticket was not confirmed then I might as well have a good excuse to cancel this trip.  The Lord graced me to finish all the work at hand and my train ticket was also confirmed at the last hour. Therefore, the trip was very fruitful as we could visit four cities in two states.

All these experiences of "birth pangs” were painful when I went through it, but as I trusted in the Lord, He graced me and I could witness the wonderful work the Lord has accomplished after the birth pangs. 

Praise be to Him! All glory to Him!

Genuine Church Life

Give Up and Give In

Following the Lord is exciting and also challenging. Following the Lord requires faithfulness and flexibility. Following the Lord is a matter of the Lord’s mercy and garce. I do not believe anyone can follow the Lord without the Lord gracing him to follow Him. It is simply impossible to follow the Lord faithfully without the Lord's faithfulness upon His followers.

These days, the Lord has been training me to follow Him by taking His grace and faithfulness as mine own. The first lesson is, I must learn the lesson of giving up my own plans and opinions. I believe this is the first requirement in following the Lord. Not that I should have no plan or opinion, but that, all my plans I must commit to the Lord and let Him decide what to do with it. If He approves it, well and good. If He rejects it, then He will replace it with His own, and that will be the best plan ever. This is a simple life lesson in following the Lord.

In taking care of my dad who has come for his medication and family visit, I made many plans. But most of them the Lord took it and tore it and gave me back a better one, perhaps the best. My cooperation with the Lord in this matter is to simply GIVE UP my plans and GIVE IN to His plan! And it turns out that as I gave up mine and gave in to His, the best came out! God knows best! Hallelujah!

I count it all joy to be able to cater to the need of my dad as he is now running 78 years of age. I believe the Lord has sent him to us here in Gurugram so that I can do my best to honor him as my father even as My heavenly Father commanded so.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be extended upon the land which Jehovah your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12, RecVer)

“Honor your father and your mother, as Jehovah your God has commanded you, that your days may be extended and that it may be well with you upon the land which Jehovah your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 5:16, RecVer)

““Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise,” (Ephesians 6:2, RecVer)

Therefore, my one goal with my father now is to honor my heavenly Father by honoring my earthly father in taking care of all his needs. I have been doing my best to give him the best I can, with what my Father has blessed me. Whatever was the need, I did not care much for the cost, but as my heavenly Father provided I provided it to my earthly father. I gave up my plans and gave in to My Father's plan for my father.

Vision of Egypt, the Slave House

“And Moses said to the people, Remember this day on which you came out from Egypt, from the slave house, for by strength of hand Jehovah brought you out from this place; and nothing leavened shall be eaten.” (Exodus 13:3, 4; 20:2; Deuteronomy 5:6; 6:12; 7:8, 8:14; 13:5, 10; Joshua 24:17; Judges 6:8; Micah 6:4, RecVer)

In my study of the Bible, the Lord showed me a new light concerning the world and all its vain glory. Though I knew vaguely that Egypt is a type of the world, never was I so deeply enlightened to dread the reality of this vain world. The glitters and glamours of this world looks so luxuriously attractive. In fact, many people, including the believers, have labored and ran after this deceptive world without realising what the world truly is. The world is a mere slave house. Implying that, laboring and living in this world is actually a slavery. What glory is there in slavery? What is there to be proud of being a slave? The world, Egypt, according to the Bible and in the eyes of God is just a slave house.

Having seen this vision of the world, will anyone take pride in anything of the world? Only the blind and the fools will. I surely would not wish to be one among the blind and the fools. May the Lord have mercy on me that I would no longer be deceived by the world. May the Lord opened the eyes of the saints that we no longer be deceived by the glitters and glamours of this world.

I repent even for dreaming of having any future in the world. I repent of dreaming and wishing my children to be somebody in the world. Of course, I will give them the best education possible, but definitely not for the world. People may study hard and invest in education to become somebody in the world, but I no longer. All my vain dreams in the world have been shattered by this one vision of the world. The world is just a slave house. 

“For the kingdom of the heavens is like a man, who is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire workmen for his vineyard. And having agreed with the workmen for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And to those he said, You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you. And they went.” (Matthew 20:1-4, RecVer)

All the knowledge, skill, and education we learned in the world, if they are not useful to the Lord they are definitely vain. Anyone laboring NOT in the Lord’s vineyard is standing idle. All that he does in the world and are not for the Lord are worthless to God and are reckoned himself as "standing idle."

My heart cries out to all the children of God who are not laboring in the Lord's vineyard, "Please do not waste your time and energy for nothing. Serve the Lord, even in your worldly job. Serve the Lord by making use of the access to the world to gain people from the world for the Lord. Or atleast, plunder the world and offer your earning for the Lord’s work."

Looking back at my life, I simply worship the wise God who had called me out of the world to serve Him. All my shattered worldly dreams have now been replaced by the joy, peace and satisfaction of laboring in the Lord’s vineyard. What a salvation from Egypt, the slave house!

Lord, open the eyes of Your children to see the worthlessness of the world and the worthiness of Yourself!

Eye Care, Health Care, I Care

My father has come to be with us for sometime and also for his medical tests done, especially his eyes. I reckoned the best place for his eye care will be with the best and biggest eye hospital in Gurugram. This hospital was brought to my notice a few years ago but I had never visited. When my dad came, my wife also needed to check her eyes as she felt uncomfortable while reading. Therefore, with daddy and my wife, we all visited the Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital, for the first time and did a thorough check up of all our eyes including mine. We were impressed by the facilities and the different rounds of checking and consultation done. Therefore, my dad's eyes treatment was done, my wife's too was checked and done, and mine too, but no further check or treatment required for me. What we have been waiting for concerning our eyes check up was done for the three of us on the same day. 

Since my dad came all the way for his health check up, I did my best to consult the best doctor for his health needs. For eyes, for kidneys, for legs, and any other need, if there be. In the process of health care, I got the opportunity to care for my beloved dad while he is still with me. The Lord also gave me the wisdom where to go, whom to meet, and when to meet. All check ups so far after the test results came, were fine. Through this medical need, the Lord gave me the opportunity to honor my father and do to him the best I could offer. 

One whole day, we visited Safdarjung Hospital and did doctor's consulation for dad for his internal organs and legs. That gave us opportunity to visit some parts of Delhi, Dilli Haat and India Gate, where we spent time together with daddy. I wonder if such opportunity would come our way again. I followed my spirit to do the best I could to make daddy happy. I was not sure if there would be another time like this. Besides, the eye care and health care, I too care for my dad to be happy. Whrn he expressed his need for a shoe, I purchased for him the shoe he chose for His own. I reckon this act as honoring my father.

“The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.” (Proverbs 10:1, RecVer)

“A wise son makes a father glad, / But a foolish man despises his mother.” (Proverbs 15:20, RecVer)

“Whoever loves wisdom makes his father glad, But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his substance.” (Proverbs 29:3, RecVer)

I was so thankful to the Lord that within my limited resources, the Lord graced me to do my best to serve my father. And I did so with a joyful heart. My joy was made even more joyful by this opportunity to care for my dad.

Thank the Lord, He even uses our health situation to strengthen our family bond. Lord, keep us all in good health for Your sake.

Faithful in Service

“Therefore, brothers, be the more diligent to make your calling and selection firm, for doing these things you shall by no means ever stumble.” (2 Peter 1:10, RecVer)

Faithfulness is what God requires from His servants. Yet, this faithfulness is of God, which through the exercise of our spirits, we can gain the God of faith to become our faithfulness. Faithfulness is the one quality of life I require from all the serving ones in my area of service as I myself exercise faithfulness in my service. Interestingly, my wife gave me a Chinese name on our wedding day which literally means faithfulness. I trust my faithfull God to be my faithfulness in all my relationship with Him, with my wife, with all the saints, and also in all my services.

One of our serving ones has been found to be lacking in certain aspects of his service. Time and again, the matter about his lag in his service has been reported to me. Atleast, for a couple of times, we have had fellowship with him in love as brothers concerning his service. In all our fellowship, he accepted his shortages and amen all our fellowship without any argument. Yet, in course of time, the very matters that we fellowshipped with him has to be repeated again and again as he also has family issues that has been bogging him in his service.

The past week, I received a report face to face from another serving one about his lagging behind in his responsibilities. Then, another serving one reported about his lag again. When the matter was brought to me, I felt good to bring him online over a conference call. Instead of discussing about a person behind his back, I prefer to talk to him directly and let him speak from his viewpoint too. Therefore, we had a conference call for over an hour and finally settled the matter.

My heart has never been to fire any serving ones for whatever reason. I don't believe in making an impromptu and harsh decision. I would hear from the person directly whatever he has to say. And then consider carefully what is in the Lord’s mind concerning the matter and the person himself. Then, in fellowship, I would hear from my coordinators what they have to say. And only if the Lord gave me a clear word I will take decision. Otherwise, I would wait and wait until I am clear of what to do in the official position the Lord has sovereignty placed me in. In fact, I fear God so as not to misrepresent Him in anyway or in any matter. I fear God not to abuse the official position He has granted me with.

I trust the Lord that through this kind of fellowship, the said serving one could be shepherded and be recovered in His function in the Body assigned by the Head Christ. Indeed, the Lord anointed our fellowship and he took the points of fellowship positively. Thus, my brother has been shepherded and restored in His function.

Today, we, the serving ones in the distribution, prayed and fellowshipped together. Our prayer was that our calling and selection be made firm and that we be diligent in all our official responsibilities. I do believe, the Lord is pleased to hear this kind of prayer. 

“Or service, let us be faithful in that service; or he who teaches, in that teaching;” (Romans 12:7, RecVer)

Lord, preserve us all serving ones to be faithful in the services You assigned to us by Your own faithfulness.