Christ and His Cross for the Church

The ethnic clash that erupted in Manipur on May 3rd does not seem to die down. Despite the Central and State government's attempt to douse the burning state, every attempt seems only to add fuel to the fire. The delaying tactic of the Government only gave time for the two warring communities to attack and kill one another. The longer the delay, the more the casualties. There seems to be no solution to this ongoing ethnic violence. Then, what is the solution? From where will the solution come? And when?

I have friends and brothers from both sides of the communities. I also also heard stories from both sides of their own versions. Each side justify their own deeds and none were willing to take the blame. Slogans, propaganda, and memorandum are being raised from both sides. None admitted to their mistakes, none willing to forgive, and none willing to retreat either. The establishment remains a mute spectator of the devastation causing havoc to the social fabric of the state. Friends turn foes. Where do the situation go from here?

With my little knowledge of the word of God and the few experiences I have of the way of life, I can, for sure, envision a solution. The solution is Christ and His Cross for the genuine Church.

No matter what the government will decide will only lead to troubles as it cannot please both sides. There has to be a compromise and there has to be sacrifices. The state has embroiled itself into a miry clay of confusion with no eminent return to normalcy. It is like walking on the edge of a sharp razor with barefoot, bleeding wherever it turns or whatever step it takes. Even if it stays still, it is and will still bleed. Battleground has be set for civil war with no truce at sight. 

But I still see solution amidst the situation and the dins of war cries. Only if all the parties involved turn to the living God, there is hope. To this, I reiterate, only if all turn to the living God. Especially, all believing brethren must waits on the Lord. I pray that all the professing Christians should first repent and cry out to God for mercy. 

No king is saved by a great army; 

A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain thing for salvation, 

And it cannot deliver by its great power.

Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon those who fear Him, Upon those who hope in His lovingkindness, 

To deliver their soul from death 

And to preserve them alive in famine. 

Our soul waits on Jehovah;  He is our help and our shield; For in Him our heart rejoices, Because in His holy name we trust.

May Your lovingkindness, O Jehovah, be upon us, Even as we have hoped in You.

(Psalms 33:16-22, RecVer)

Inward revival of the Christians is the need of the time. Prayer of repentance and forgiveness is the need of the hour. Resetting the goal to the kingdom of God from setting the mind on the visible and earthly things is the urgent need now. For this, I pray for all my fellow brothers in Christ. Only this is the solution. The experience of Christ and His cross is the solution. I pray for the salvation of all the unsaved. And I pray for the wisdom of God to be exercised through all the decision making authorities not to ever again commit blunders. May the God of peace come into the situation and make peace.

The christians brothers must experience Christ and His cross. As God has forgiven us, so must we also forgive. After all, our enemies are not men but Satan behind the sinful men. Love swalloes hatred. Life overcomes death. Light enliven darkness. Christ is love, life, and light.

Lord Jesus, save the people of Manipur. Lord Jesus, save Manipur! 

Ministry of the Word to Longleng, Nagaland

The Lord Jesus loves the Nagas and brought the gospel through consecrated saints over a hundred year ago. By and large, the state has been christianized, especially the Nagas. Yet, the desire of God’s heart is even deeper than just being Christians.

“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)

In oneness with God and realising His burden, we took upon ourselves the same burden to help our beloved Naga brothers and sisters in Christ to come to the full knowledge of the truth by presenting to them the ministry literature. For this burden, I have toured Nagaland twice in the past and now this time again to cover the districts not yet visited, together with my fellow brethren.

Yesterday morning, we began our trip from Dimapur at about 9 AM by an SUV through Kohima, Wokha, Mokokchung, Merangkong, Netnyu and then Longleng. It took us a good 16 hours drive through hills, valleys, and landslide muds. We finally arrived our destination at about 1:30 AM today morning. After our late dinner at about 2 AM, we took rest.

Today, we visited the different churches in Longleng town for the introduction and distribution of the ministry of the word. The Lord was so sovereign in the timing of our visit. We were supposed to come a week earlier but since I needed to go to Cochi for official purpose it was delayed by a week. On top of that, we were supposed to go to Mokokchung and Impur first but after reconsideration we came to this town first. Therefore, we were able to attend the Mid-term meeting of the Phom Baptist churches all over Longleng today that was represented by 55 local churches Pastors. Had we come a week earlier we would have this meeting. Or had we gone to Mokokchung and Impur first, we would also miss this meeting. The Lord knows the best time and He led us as such.

In addition to being warmly welcomed, we were also given time to introduce the ministry literature and also prayed for by all the Pastors present. So, the outreach was wide and covered the entire Longleng district just in one meeting! A good number of Pastors also purchased the Holy Bible Recovery Version, the ministry books, and also invited us for an early dinner with the Christian leaders. After the meeting, we could still visit two more remaining churches and thereby completed the distribution in Longleng!

Our host came to this town just a month ago and stayed in an Ex-MLA's residence. The Lord used this brother who has also been blessed by the ministry books, to host us. In fact, he will leave his job soon for another job. I felt that he came to this city just for the Lord’s move to make a way for us to come and I told him the same, which he readily agreed too. And in this guest house, 13 young people had their singing practice tonight afterwhich we were able to minister the word encouraging all of them to inculcate a spiritual habit of calling upon the Lord’s name, reading His word, and spending time with the Lord in prayer. After all these, we enjoyed yet another sumptuous meal and took rest for the day.

I simply worship the ways of God and the deeds of God that He has sovereignly been showing to us for the sake of His move in Nagaland.

Praise You Lord! Thank You Lord!

I worship You ways, Lord!

Malayalam Literature Service: A New Beginning

For two days, the Lord has been with us in our fellowship concerning Malayalam literature service. Point by point, every matter of fellowship was successfully concluded. Be it director matter or new translator matter, the Lord led us through and through.

In our two days fellowship, the Lord led us to bring in a new serving one upon whom He has impute the burden for serving full-time in the literature service. What impressed me most was how the Lord worked in the hearts and minds of our brothers.

First, this new brother had the burden for serving in the literature service and called up the brother responsible for coordinating in the translation overall. Then, our Malayalam key serving brother has the burden to bring in this new brother into the full-time service. Then, this new brother signed up voluntarily for Malayalam Recovery Version New Testament proofreading work last year. Then, after a year, we met today as we came to fellowship in Cochi.

Besides the circumstantial leading, this brother was still not very clear concerning his service. So when we fellowshipped, I mentioned how the Lord does speak through the Body as in the case of Saul of Tarsus. 

“But rise up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.” 

(Acts 9:6, RecVer)

Then, I shared a testimony of how the Lord takes care of all His serving ones both spiritually and physically too. I fellowshipped with him the vision of serving the living God in the eternal kingdom of God versus serving mammon in Egypt usurped by Satan. And further showed him all the blessings of serving the Lord in contrast to serving Pharoah in Egypt, a slave house. Then, he became very clear and through the fellowship he decided to come in full-time to serve in the literature service. So, in one fellowship the matter was confirmed as it was of the Lord. To me, this is a new beginning in Malayalam literature service.

May the Lord preserve this young brother for His service. May the Lord train and perfect him for the Malayalam literature service. And may the Lord richly bless the literature service for His move among the Malayalam speaking brothers and sisters. Amen.

Journey Within a Journey

“The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship were like the sight of beryl. And the four of them had one likeness; that is, their appearance and their workmanship were as it were a wheel within a wheel. Whenever they went, they went in their four directions; they did not turn as they went.” (Ezekiel 1:16-17, RecVer)

Last Thursday, I was on a flight from Delhi to Cochi. Since the airline prepond the flight timing, I got to sleep only for two hours before I boarded the flight. Generally, I don't sleep during flight, but this time I could not control my sleep. I had a sound sleep in the flight. And also saw a prophetic dream.

I was in a journey where I drove a bus full of people. The road trip was very smooth despite curves, turns, ups and downs. As I was driving I realised that I slept off. But the journey was so smooth. The moment I realised that I was asleep, I forcefully woke up myself. And when I did wake up, I was still safely driving and finally reached our destination.

When I woke up, I was wondering what this dream could be. The Lord gave me it's interpretation later. Apparently, I have been leading the serving ones with me in the literature service. But actually it was the Lord leading us all. The literature journey that I have been undertaking is within the work of the Lord. The Lord as the great Wheel is driving, moving on and on. We, the many serving ones, move along with the Lord in His move. Within His move, we move. Within His great Wheel is our wheel. It really doesn't matter how I drive as long as my driving is within the Wheel. Ultimately, what will lead us to goal is the moving Wheel within which we are moving. Many times I did not even know how things were going on. But all things went on smoothly. Though I seem to look like a blind guide not knowing how I was leading, but the Lord was the actual invisible Leader who has been leading us on and on. In His leading I have been leading. Therefore, we are being led. Hallelujah!

I was so comforted to see this dream. As long as we are in the journey of the Lord, our journey is safe and will definitely reach the goal. As long as my driving is within the great Wheel, everything is all right. For it is the Lord who is the real Driver who leads us to the goal. This is also what I have been enjoying in the literature service the Lord has assigned me with. In the Lord, all is well. My main responsibility is to make sure that I do not veer away from the journey of the Lord. Stay within the Journey and enjoy the journey.

This is a wheel within a wheel of God’s move in His economy. He is the Captain and also my Captain. And we are all safe in our service as we are all in Him. 

Praise the Lord for His move. A wheel within a wheel, a journey within a journey.

Directors' Fellowship

A few moths ago, in our first board of directors meeting for this year, one of the brothers brought the matter of the other director who has not been able to function as director due to ill health and old age. We were considering to fellowship the matter with that director how he felt about his directorship. This was followed by months of prayer and consideration. After a couple of fellowships, it became clear that myself and my co-director functioning actively with me should visit and fellowship the matter with directly. 

Yesterday, we came to Cochi to fellowship with our senior brother on his eighties how he feel about his directorship. We treat this matter as very sensitive and I personally would not dare to fellowship this matter, given a choice. But I had no choice. Therefore, I looked to the Lord for His wisdom how to handle this matter. After much prayer, the Lord gave me peace and spoke to me that everything will be alright. I must just go ahead as fellowshipped by the brothers. Afterall, I am not doing this on my own or out of my own initiation. It all came from the brothers. First, from a senior brother from USA with whom we have been coordinating for the literature for over a decade now. Then, the matter was brought to fellowship with the key brothers serving the work in India. Then, in oneness with the brothers' fellowship and trusting the Lord with much prayer, the fellowship to the concerned director was done.

When we asked our senior brother how he felt about his directorship, he replied in a very open and positive way. Paraphrasing his words, not verbatim:

I feel not to continue with my directorship due to my health and age. Some other brother can come in. But that brother must have been broken and thoroughly dealt with by the Lord. 

This words from my senior brother confirmed the speaking of the Lord within me and also the brothers' fellowship. I deeply respect and honor this brother for such mature words. Deep within, I thank the Lord that He has truly worked on my brother's being. I was witnessing and fellowshiping with a brother who has been transformed and mature in life. O what a glorious fellowship we had! The matter that I thought would be the most difficult for me to handle actually became the easiest. For it was of the Lord and the Lord has gained a person!

Later, I fellowshipped with my co-functioning director that in all our Christian life and service, the most important matter is the person. Once a person is proper, everything is proper. Outward gifts, qualifications, and capabilities are all secondary. The right person is the right channel for the right work.

Later, this brother signed a resignation letter from directorship to give room to a new director whom the Lord will bring in. A smooth transition that we hoped for has become a reality! But this does in no way means the resignation from his function in translation. It only means the release from his official duty of being a director which is also practically difficult for him to function. His service in no way will be affected as he can serve as long as he can and wills to. The Lord is the Lord and He is sovereign over all matters, person, and things. 

May His perfect will be done.

Recovery of Corporate Prayer and Pursuit

Last week, I had a strong feeling that the corporate prayer and truth pursuit that we used to have before the daily office hours be resumed even for those who are not physically present at the Gurugram office. Accordingly, I sent a message to those who used to join before and put them into a group for the weekday's pursuit. When we started such a corporate pursuit, the enjoyment of the word has been much increased. The book for pursuit the Lord burdened me was "The Recovery of God's House and God's City" which was also in line with the current burden in the local churches and the present speaking of the Lord to all the churches. Through such a corporate pursuit I was able to recover my sharing of ministry excerpts to some WhatsApp groups in a way of spiritual food supply.

Once the first book was fully read and pursued, we chose relevant books, "A God Who Hides Himself" and "Christ is All Spiritual Matter and Things". After these books, we will be pursuing "The Gospel of God" and continue to pursue book by book as many as and as long as we can. Such pursuit also serves as a spiritual nourishment to all participants and a food supply to those with whom the excerpt has been shared. This should be a regular practice in the church life.

In fact, it is in this way of pursuit that I could complete the Life-study of the Bible of 1984 messages which took me over eight years and ten months. Day by day, here a little there a little, regularly and continuously, in the course of time, a lot has been gained. It is like little drops of water, dripping continuously and finally filling up the whole vessel. 

I knew the value of truth pursuit, both individually and corporately. Therefore, since the time I came to serve in the literature service, I made it mandatory at least in the Gurugam office for all the serving ones. But not forcing everyone to join, but taking the lead to pursue the truth persistently and opening the pursuit for others to join. I further open up the pursuit to others who may like to join, who are not serving in the office, and also to those who live outside of Gurugram. In this way, a good number of serving ones and saints were also helped in their corporate pursuit of the truth.

Without such a daily regular pursuit, it is not easy to regularly pursue the truth alone. This is a wonderful opportunity for all and it helped me a lot too. This is how we eat and feast on the word of God corporately for our spiritual education, inward constitution, and also for our growth in life unto full maturity.

Language of Judah

Ne 13:23In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab;
Ne 13:24And as for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod; and none of them could speak the language of Judah, but they spoke the language of the respective peoples.
Ne 13:25And I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair; and I made them swear by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

When the chosen people of God under captivity for seventy years returned back to Jerusalem their being was just like that of the Babylonians. Except for the fact that they were the children of Isreal, all their inward constitutions and outward behavior were Babylonians. The degradation was to the extent that they even forgot their own language, the language of Judah. What is this language of Judah in today's Christian life? It is the spiritual "culture" we live out in church life today. The practice of the church life is the language of Judah that we speak. This is how we communicate with one another and this is also how we define the truth the Lord has revealed to us. Perhaps, this is also the way we fellowship and go on in our Christian life for the church life. The following is an excerpt from Br. Witness Lee's ministry concerning the new language, the language of Judah.

In the new language of the Lord’s recovery,…incarnation means that God brought Himself into man, mingled His divinity with humanity, and made God and man one entity. This is the new language. To understand that God became a man is easy, but it is more difficult to understand that God brought Himself into man and mingled His divinity with humanity. The mingling of divinity and humanity is the highest interpretation of incarnation. If our understanding of incarnation does not reach this height, we do not know it well…Incarnation means that God mingles Himself with man, making Himself one entity with man. This is deeper than saying that God became a man. 

There are many examples like this of the new language. The highest definition of regeneration is that God has regenerated His people with His divine life, grafting His divine life with the human life to have one living (Rom. 11:17). To be renewed
is to have our mind changed to be Christ’s mind (1 Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5). Christ’s mind with the mingled spirit penetrates our mind, making our spirit the spirit of our mind (Eph. 4:23)…Our spirit is the center of our being, and our soul, the main part of which is our mind, surrounds our spirit. In regeneration the Spirit comes into our spirit to be one with our spirit (1 Cor. 6:17). From that time on, the Spirit, who is mingled with our spirit as one, is waiting for the opportunity to spread into our mind, that is, into our soul. This is renewing according to the new language. 

We all must learn to pick up this new language in the Lord’s recovery…The Lord’s recovery is a new culture. I hope that all the saints will enter into the new vocabulary, the new language and utterance, of this new culture. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 4, pp. 38-39)

I was very much touched when I came across this portion of the ministry. On the one hand, it was a reminder of what kind of church life I have been living, and on the other hand, it was a warning not to forget my spiritual mother tongue, the language of Judah. This language also includes the culture we have been living out in the church life, which I emphasize again and again; the daily morning revival, the daily Bible reading, the daily personal prayer life, and the corporate prayer life of the church or the family. It also includes the shepherding of the saints and new ones, the preaching of the gospel, and participation in training, conferences, and blending meetings. All these comprise the language of Judah.

One Lord's day, I shared the burden on the need to speak the language of Judah to all the saints. We should not and must not forget this spiritual language. This is our lingua franca of the church life. This language must be spoken among ourselves and also be taught to all the children of God. This speaking-living of the language of Judah will enable us to grow in life, blend with one another, and build up with one another for the building up of the Body of  Christ. It is also this language that will prepare the Bride of Christ and bring the Lord Jesus back for the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose.

May we always speak the language of Judah and teach others as well.