Being Hospitable

 Be hospitable to one another without murmuring. 1 Peter 4:9

Two weeks ago we had a North India Seekers Conference and Blending in Delhi and Gurugram. A group of seekers from different parts of North India came to attend the meeting. The arrangement was that the seekers stay in the homes of the saints. But there was a group of brothers who wished to stay together in one place. Since it was their first time to join this kind of conference, the only suitable place for a group of seven brothers and two sisters for hospitality was the meeting hall of the church. Therefore, the arrangement was made for them to be given hospitality in the meeting hall and I needed to take care of them. The venue for the meeting was in Delhi but the place of stay was in Gurgram, a distance of about one and half hour journey. It was not convenient at all for me in a very practical sense. But since that was the arrangement, I took that as the Lord's arrangement and looked to the Lord for grace to fulfill my responsibility well. 

Since I knew that this was not an easy task to handle by myself, I fellowshipped with my coordinating brother that dinner could be corporately made for all the new ones who were given hospitality in Gurugram. In this way, the burden was distributed to other saints too. It was such a release to share the burden with the members of the Body. In this way, I am learning to be hospitable. Otherwise, though I have the heart, I could not really be hospitable by myself. Even giving hospitality needs coordination in the Body. 

This time, the new ones also brought their pet rabbits along with them. This made the room smelly and dirty. Yet, in giving hospitality I need to accommodate them all, no matter what they brought along with them, or whatever or how many languages they had. Even for their travel expenses, I was quite concerned but the Lord made ways to meet the need for all the expenses, both for the traveling and food. 

What I ultimately learned was, that I should not reject hospitality simply because I think I cannot give it. But I must exercise to be enlarged in my heart to receive whatever the Body in fellowship has arranged. The Lord knows my capacity and He will allow what He feels best. So I simply must accept the arrangement of the Lord and learn to be hospitable. In myself, I am not a hospitable person. But in the Lord, I am, as the Lord's life is a life of shepherding that shepherds people, especially the saints. Therefore, I can be hospitable. And the Lord gave me the opportunity to learn this lesson on hospitality.

Lord, make me hospitable to all Your children and to others according to Your arrangement.

Being On Time

Being on time is a matter of character. Of late, I have been exposed of my need to be punctual in doing things that need urgent attention. Sometimes, due to busy schedules and giving more priority to other things, I neglected some basic things that turned out to be something of urgent matter. I have learned important lessons in the matter of being on time. 

In our house, we have a water pump whose water level indicators did not indicate the water level correctly and the water tank alarm got malfunctioned. Therefore, water was pumped according to assumption, and every time it was pumped, the water overflowed. One day I finally decided to fix this myself and spent a couple of hours to figure out what actually went wrong with the water tank alarm. Then I discovered that water sipped into the wire connecting the water level detector. Then, I repaired it and solved the water overflow and over-pump problem. 

The ceiling fan in our bedroom had made a lot of noise. For months, we had been tolerating the awkward noises assuming that it could be a loose connection of some nuts and bolts. Finally, I decided to look at what the problem was and realized that it was not a mere nuts and bolts problem. Then I took it to a mechanic who fixed it within a few minutes. Problem solved!

In our office, we had an issue with Wi-Fi connectivity in the other office room. I tried to fix it a couple of times but the only solution seemed to be to have an extension for the other room. It was not fixed earlier as the serving ones were mostly working from home. Since they all have come back, I decided to solve it once and for all by creating an extension. It took me about an hour with the help of an electrician and an IT person to finally fix it.

Similarly, as the video training being conducted in India has switched to online webcast training mode, and that the churches in India decided to follow the schedule set by the one who conducts the training. We had to make arrangements to inform the churches in India early on time. For this, immediate action need to be taken and a fellowship was called to settle this issue. Through the help of the brothers, the fellowship was done.

In all these experiences, the Lord taught me an important lesson of being on time. Yes, the context may be to do things on time. In real life, I must be prepared to meet Him on time if He should return soon. I must be on time to deal with whatever needs to be dealt with in my life so that I may not regret it later, especially, when standing before the judgment seat.

Lord, prepare me and make me ready to be on time.

Ministry of the Word to Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli

Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli are two union territories once inhabited by the Portuguese and filled with Catholics. In all our past distribution trips, we hardly visited any Catholic institution. But this time, the Lord gave us a brother who was with us all the while on this distribution trip. In fact, he was once a Catholic priest and has now come into the church life. He did get his independence from the group on this year's independent day. I did meet him once a couple of years ago, as he reminded me. He, out of much conviction from the Lord based on the truth he understood, paid a huge price to leave the group where he spent almost half of his life if he had to live up to eighty-plus years. He became a channel for the Lord's move among the brothers in that fold.

Though these two UTs were not in our original plan when the trip was proposed I looked at the Indian map and discovered that these two UTs were on the way from Gujarat back to Mumbai as we planned to leave from Mumbai after our Gujarat trip. Though we had no contact in these cities, just a few days before we actually went, our brother through his friends' connection contacted the key priest in the two cities.

In Daman, we had a night stay arranged by our brother. The next day morning, we presented the truth to the priest who oversees the entire Daman for his religious group. I presented the accuracy of translation and the usefulness of the footnotes in the Holy Bible Recovery Version and two books, The Basic the Holy Scriptures, and  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After the explanation, I also presented the printed title books to the priest. I do hope that it will be a great revelation to him when he reads them. He received the free ministry literature for distribution among his congregation and also to be placed at the Cathedral where many tourists visit. This was what the Lord did for Daman this time.

In Dadra, we visited another priest at Silvassa. Though he initially did not welcome anything or anyone from “protestants,” after listening to the introduction of the ministry books, especially the Holy Bible Recovery Version, he ended up buying the Recovery Version for his personal study even though his congregation would not accept a non-Catholic Bible. To him also, free ministry books were given for distribution.

We just followed the Spirit's leading again, step by step. Our responsibility was to sow the seed of the ministry wherever He led us. Be it Protestants, Catholics, or Pentecostals, the ministry of the word is for all. The Lord as the Seed will sow Himself into those who receive the ministry literature, One day, lo and behold, we will praise the Lord for what He has done!

Lord, raise up Your testimony in Daman and Dadra!

Ministry of the Word to Nadiad, Vadodara, Anand, and Surat

Nadiad
This city was not in our original plan. But, a brother who is a possible translator for Gujarati was introduced to me. Thereafter, this city was inserted into the distribution plan. Later, I realized that there was a sister from this city who was gained while she was studying for her nursing course in Hyderabad. This sister and her family became the key contact for Nadiad. In fact, as we arrived in the city, she and her family had prepared a meeting with their neighbors. Though our plan was to stay in a hotel, we eventually had to cancel the hotel and stayed in the seeker's home as they requested. In fact, we were seven brothers, but still, out of their love toward the Lord and us, they made arrangements with all the facilities they had in their home.

As we began the meeting, we sang a Gujarati hymn, Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine! Based on this hymn, I picked up the phrase "Born of His Spirit" and fellowshipped on the line of the need to be born again using the life of Nicodemus in John 3. Other brothers followed suit in sharing the truth on the same line with some testimony. We had a wonderful group meeting with the new ones in Nadiad. I do believe, the Lord will gain these families for the church life in Nadiad!

After the night halt, the next day, the family again prepared a sumptuous breakfast though we told them not to. Still, because of their love, they gave their best again. Then, a brother and I went to meet the Reverend Pastor of the Methodist church who also purchased the ministry books after introducing it to them. Then, a contact who was supposed to be a Gujarati translator but did not work out was met. After meeting him I realize that the Lord uses some people to give us direction, and some to open the door, and some to actually be the pillars for His testimony. He sovereignly moves in His wise ways.

Vadodara
The key contact in Nadiad, our sister, volunteered to join us in Vadodara as well and she wanted us to meet with her relatives. In fact, there too, they prepared lunch, dinner, night stay, and breakfast. They all loved the Lord and did their best for us. May the Lord richly reward them, especially the sister who took the initiative in making all the necessary arrangements.

In the night meeting with our host, we sang a hymn in Gujarati, What a Friend we Have in Jesus!. Based on this hymn, I ministered the word on the need to treasure the Lord's presence all the time in prayer and the word of God. I also released the burden of reading and eating the word of God using the Lord's words in John 6 along with my own testimony. My burden was to help the families who have young brothers and also the new brothers who coordinated with us in the ministry journey for the first time.

In Vadodara, the Lord also led me to meet the President of the Gujarat Tracts and Books Society. Although their bookstore and office were in Ahmedabad, we did not have time to visit them there. But here, the President who could make the decision placed the order for the ministry books and Bible for display in their bookroom. Therefore, the Lord led us to meet the right people at the right place and at the right time again! Besides, a Hebrew professor at a theological seminary who also knows Greek was met and he appreciated the Holy Bible Recovery Version and purchased a copy for himself.

Of course, a few other Pastors were met too along with the sister who actually helped in finalizing the Gujarati free booklets which were distributed in Gujarat on this trip. By the way, a group of brothers went to another city Anand.

Anand

In the city of Anand where AMUL, Anand Milk Union Limited, the famous Indian milk company is situated, the Lord has His remnant, a family open to the ministry. The sister there had been in Mumbai enjoying the church life and actively serving there.

Surat
The brothers were concerned that there was no accommodation arranged in this city. However, we met a Pastor in Vadodara, and he helped us in booking the CNI church guest house. This turned out to be a key venue in Surat for us to meet seekers and introduce the ministry literature. Initially, the meetings with seekers were not very encouraging, but as we left the city, we stopped by on the way to meet a Pastor. Our meeting with him turned out to be a big breakthrough for the distribution. As the brother was the son of the Pastor who ran the biggest independent Christian ministry in Surat and was also a part of the mainline churches. The door has been opened and the seed has been sown in Surat!

Lord, raise up Your testimony in Nadiad, Vadodara, Anand, and Surat!

Ministry of the Word to Ahmedabad

 And Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them on the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might go by day and by night. Exodus 13:21

The first time we visited Gujarat was in 2014 from 11 to 12 Nov in Ahmedabad where we met a brother who loved Br. Watchman Nee’s writings and later through him and other translators, BXL 1,2,3 Rhema booklets were translated into Gujarati. In fact, two brothers who translated the ministry books into Gujarati died in the past few years. Later, a seeking sister came into contact with us and she helped in checking and finalizing the three Rhema booklets. After nine years, the ministry books in Gujarati were finally printed. These Gujarati booklets along with English and Hindi ministry books were used for introducing the ministry to the Christian leaders and seekers in some select cities of Gujarat. It was done so in coordination with the brothers in churches in Maharashtra from 18 to 23 September.

The churches in Maharashtra have picked up the burden to propagate in Gujarat. In fact, they have been regularly visiting a couple of cities. This time, in coordination with the literature service, we visited those cities again with a few other new cities, to introduce and distribute the ministry literature in Gujarati, Hindi, and English. We indeed enjoyed the Lord's timely speaking Jehovah went before us by day in a pillar of cloud to lead us on the way! (Exodus 13:21a)

Through the brothers serving in the free distribution, a contact in Ahmedabad became the beachhead for the introduction and distribution of the ministry literature in the city. The District Superintendent of the Methodist church organized a session for the ministry books introduction which was attended by the Christian leaders of the mainline churches in Ahmedabad; Methodist, Church of North India, Salvation Army, and Christian and Missionary Alliance of Br. A.B. Simpson. A brother and I coordinated to introduce the ministry books. In introducing the Holy Bible Recovery Version, I specifically used Ephesians 1:5 on sonship versus adoption to highlight the accuracy of the translation, and Genesis 2:7 on "breath of life, Heb. neshamah"  to highlight the need for footnotes to help under the meaning of the phrase or word. In introducing the ministry books, I used "Seeking God's Will" from Message for Building Up New Believers to help readers understand the need for reading good ministry books. 

Translator and Distributor

Two other prayer burdens for our ministry journey to Gujarat were to find a proper Gujarati translator and a local distributor in Gujarat. The Lord answered our prayers and granted us both! As we were fellowshipping with a Pastor, he mentioned a couple of names who might be interested in meeting us. In fact, one brother who was the manager of an ISPCK in Ahmedabad came. As I personally fellowshipped with him about the ministry books, he, after consulting with his superior placed an order for the ministry books in Hindi and English.  This was a surprise to me because my concept was that the Christians in Gujarat mostly prefer Gujarati books which we do not have yet due to lack of translators. However, it turned out that there were a good number of Hindi and English speakers too. Therefore, the door was opened for the ministry to be made available in Ahmedabad!

Through this brother, as I enquired about a Gujarati translation work, another brother was introduced. Upon fellowshipping with him for a while, I had the peace within that he was the person to engage in Gujarati translation service,. Therefore, I called up my coordinating brother in Gurugram office and let him do the talk for translation service. After this, it was confirmed that he and his team would work on the ministry books translation. This was how the Lord answered our prayers.

In this city too, we met three families, a Malayali and two Gujarati. Both of them have opened their homes for our visit. One gave us dinner and the other lunch while we were there. We also spent time fellowshipping with them on the truth and a brother shared his testimony of how the Lord saved him and led him from Catholic to the church life.

I personally was so thankful to the Lord for His specific leading in this city. I even told the brothers that my burden was accomplished in the first city itself! Anyhow, we still had other cities to visit.

Lord, bless the translation service into Gujarati, the distribution of the ministry books in Gujarat, and the shepherding of the seeking family for Your testimony in Ahmedabad!

North India Seekers Conference and Blending

God has blended the body together… 1 Cor. 12:24b
For thus says the Lord Jehovah, I Myself, even I, will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day when he is among his sheep which are scattered, so I will seek out My sheep; and I will deliver them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them into their own land, and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the streams and in all the inhabited places of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and their dwelling place will be upon the mountains of the heights of Israel; there they will lie down in a good dwelling place, and on rich pasture they will feed upon the mountains of Israel. I Myself will shepherd My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, declares the Lord Jehovah. I will seek the lost one and bring back the one that was driven away and bind up the broken one and strengthen the sick one. Ezekiel 34:11-16a

In the past fellowships, as I reported concerning the Lord opening the doors in different parts of North India, the brothers suggested inviting some of these promising ones selectively for a seekers' conference and blending. Based on such a fellowship, a proposal was made, and with much prayer, I started inviting them one by one individually. As the Lord operated in them through His words from what they had heard from us and read from the ministry books we distributed to them, most of them agreed to come, except in three states where the seekers already had prior appointments.

 

Thirty-three key selected seekers from seven states of North India who were met through the Hindi ministry literature distribution over the past few years and who have been in contact were invited for a weekend conference and blending in Delhi and Gurugram from 15 to 17 September. This meeting was like a harvest of the seed of the ministry sown through the distribution and a gradual transfer of these seekers to the churches and the work for follow-up shepherding. 
 
The book The Application of the Interpretation of the New Jerusalem to the Seeking Believers was used for this conference with young brothers ministering the word directly in Hindi during the morning sessions. This was followed by reading the ministry portion in groups and then sharing by the seekers. Later in the evening, they participated in the church life in the place of their hospitality. In one session, the burden of gospel preaching and bearing remaining fruits based on John 15:16 was released, after which they went out in groups for gospel preaching. It was indeed a new experience for all the new ones taking the new way!

The burdens as I understood for this meeting were:

• Teach the High Peak Truth
• Show the Vision of the New Jerusalem and its Application
• Gospel Preaching
• Hospitality in the Saints’ Homes to Experience and Enjoy the
• Corporate Living
• Foretaste of the Church Life
• Participating in the Lord’s Table Meeting
• Blending to Usher the Seekers into the Reality of the Body of Christ
• Preparing the Seekers for the Practical Church Life in their Respective Localities

Most of the seekers testified that for the first time, they realized the New Jerusalem is not a physical city but an organic constitution of the processed Triune God mingled with His regenerated believers! Some requested that such meetings be conducted regularly. A brother being so touched by the meetings requested if he could support all the financial needs for such upcoming meetings.

Though my schedule became very tight due to my traveling for distribution before and after this conference and beginning, I still made sure to pray desperately every night when all my work for the way was done. Even though it was late, still I went to the nearby park and prayed for the Lord's presence and blessing upon all. Physically, I felt like I was overburdened, but in the Lord, I was in perfect peace, trusting in the wise and sovereign hand of the Lord. All the brothers in coordination did their part quite well. It was a wonderful time blending with the seekers, and also with and for the saints in the church in Gurugram. 

Pray for the Lord’s continual move in North India. Especially for those who received the ministry books, who have attended the conference and blending, that the Lord may enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is (Ephesians 3:9a), and gain them fully, even unto the raising of His testimony in their respective localities.

Ministry of the Word to Baragodha, Kalanaur and Jhajjar

Baragodha 
A brother in a village on the border of Haryana and Punjabi had received a free copy of BXL 1. Once we contacted him he was so eager to meet with us. In fact, when we actually met him, he literally forced us to stay overnight so that we could fellowship with his family. Though we had to meet and stay in another village, we canceled that and chose to stay with this brother based on his request. The family did their best to give traditional Punjabi hospitality with the best Punjabi dish and the best room in their newly built house. After dinner, we fellowshipped with the family on the practice of calling upon the Lord's name and led the entire family to call upon the Lord's name. We also encouraged them to call upon the Lord's name regularly, spend time reading the word of God, and pray daily.  Since they were already believers, our burden was to strengthen their faith and their enjoyment of the Lord in a very practical way. He also introduced his brother who just moved to Gurugram for a job. With this family, our burden for the literature journey to Haryana was completed. As we were heading back to Gurugram the next day, the Lord gave me a burden to stop by two more cities, as we were passing through it anyway. Therefore, I made the necessary calls and made appointments with the brothers in two cities whom we met on a previous trip to Haryana in April this year.

Kalanaur
Last April we met a Pastor who was very much impressed by the Holy Bible Recovery Version. This time as we met him again, he testified to us of the new lights and revelations he received through studying this Bible. Since he was open to us, I expounded the truth concerning the church in her local and universal aspect, the church as the Body of Christ and the one new man. Upon hearing the truth, he immediately enquired if we could conduct training for him and his coworkers across a few states of North India.  Since this matter had to be brought into the fellowship of the brothers, I did not feel good to go ahead with this proposal. This matter is to be considered carefully in coordination with the work and the churches that can do the follow-up. After the fellowship over lunch, we prayed and left for the next city Jhahjjar.

Jhajjar
A brother in this city is the one who got saved while he was in Gurugram many years ago. This time the burden was to visit him and console him as he recently lost his father. As we met him, I could only listen to all his pains and struggles in the fight for his father's health. I could only comfort him with the comfort of Christ by helping him call upon the name of the Lord out loud in his office and praying together with him. I also helped him to read a message in Hindi on Christ is the Meaning of Human Life. The ministry spoke by itself, and he got the message. May the Lord fully recover him for His testimony.

Lord, raise up Your testimony in Baragodha, Kalanaur, and Jhajjar!