Bible Reading: Forty Secondth Time

Bible reading is a part of my life and has become one of my daily enjoyments. This year, I planned to read at least three times. But due to my frequent travel schedules I could not read as much as I thought I could. Nevertheless, I did my best. Yesterday, as I had about five hours of transit at Raipur airport waiting for a connecting flight to Jagdalpur, I could catch up with my lag. So I spend the entire waiting time just to read and read and read with a few minutes gaps now and then. And finally today afternoon at my hotel room in Koraput when I had about two hours after morning fellowship, I could complete the remaining portions to complete the Old Testament and New Testament with the footnotes in the Holy Bible Recovery Version. To me, this was a great day and I could experience the Lord’s grace again in my personal reading of the Holy Bible. So, to encourage the saint in my locality, I posted a testimony for all.

Testimony: Bible Reading 2023

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out through the mouth of God.”(Matthew 4:4, RecVer)

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life._ (John 6:63, RecVer)

Hope, every saint has been reading the Bible daily. The Lord has been gracing me to read the Bible daily, and today, the 3rf of November, I have completed reading through the Bible for my 2nd time for this year 2023. This time, it was with the footnotes of every verse. This is my 42nd time reading through the Holy Bible, and a good number of times with the footnotes since I got my first Recovery Version in 2002.

This is to encourage all the saints to love the word of God and read the Bible daily. The Bible is the best book. It is worth reading it over and over again.

And many times, the Lord spoke to me through the verses I read, leading me all the time when in the midst of taking decisions personally, officially, or for family or church matters in fellowship with the saints involved.

Here, I am posting this not to boast but to declare the fact with the burden to encourage all to read the Bible and set a pattern to let all know that it is very possible to read through the Bible at least once in a year.

Saints, be encouraged. Ready your Bible daily. Even if you could not follow the schedule, at least read 2 chapters of the Old Testament and 1 chapter of the New Testament. 

The secret to Bible reading is, whenever you have time, don't do anything else, simply open your Bible and read wherever you are, at home, office, train, flight, or wherever.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:105, RecVer)

Being God's Worker

 “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s cultivated land, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9, RecVer)

“And working together with Him, we also entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain;” (2 Corinthians 6:1, RecVer)

Excerpt from the Recovery Version footnote: They worked together with God by a life (not by any gift) that was all-sufficient and all-mature, able to fit all situations, that is, able to endure any kind of treatment, to accept any kind of environment, to work in any kind of condition, and to take any kind of opportunity, for the carrying out of their ministry.

The Lord has blessed His recovery with the revelation of the high peak truth. Recently, I have been entering into the full ministry of Christ in three stages, incarnation, inclusion, and intensification. Today, as God’s coworker, I must cowork with Him to know Christ, experience Christ, and enjoy Christ to gain Christ in His full ministry. For this, I need to live by His life and enjoy His grace in carrying out the New Testament ministry. 

As I was listening to the brother ministering the word concerning the full ministry of Christ, I was so touched by the way a minister should carry out this ministry. For this, I must enjoy the all-sufficient and all-mature life, which I already received when I first believed into the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, I believe, I have been enjoying such a life. My recent experiences of the Lord just confirmed the truth I have just enjoyed. I went through some difficult situation financially and the Lord led me through with His abundant supply. The Lord taught me how to trust in Him and live by faith. In fact, He has been faithfully supplying all my needs. 

I also went through some misunderstandings and some kind of mistreatment from some brothers. In fact, there was a time when I was deeply dealt with, and I took the Lord’s grace to sustain me, which He did. Even at such times, I exercised myself to turn to the Lord and enjoyed His grace and life supply. Therefore, I was preserved and later, I realized that I just passed the test the Lord gave me. Thank the Lord for the brothers whom the Lord sovereignly used to deal with me. I really do need them for my learning and perfecting.

These experiences are needed for me, without which I may not be able to become a proper minister of the New Testament economy. There is no shortcut and no easy way. I must be crossed out for the release of the divine life within me and live and serve in the resurrection life of Christ.  No other way, but the cross. No other work, but the ministry of the New Testament economy of God. No other people to help me learn, but the members of the Body with whom I am in coordination.

Besides, the Lord will also grace me to accept any kind of environment, to work in any kind of condition, and to take any kind of opportunity, for the carrying out of the ministry. This truth which I have been learning will gradually become my experience and enjoyment issuing in the gaining of Christ.

I still have a long way to go. My Christian life is a life of knowing, experiencing, enjoying, and gaining Christ. Like Paul, I am praying that I can testify wholeheartedly, 

“I pursue toward the goal for the prize to which God in Christ Jesus has called me upward.” (Philippians 3:14, RecVer)

What a blessing that such a sinner as I am could cowork with God in the full ministry of Christ! I pray that the Lord will grace me more and more each day as I cowork with Him. That I may be so gained by Him that I fully participate in His divinity and in deed be His coworker.

Lord, Speak to Me Today

The Lord's speaking to me personally in a very intimate and subjective way is what makes me grow in the divine life. His speaking is His presence, His dispensing, and His blessing. Without His speaking, life will be without any direction. His speaking proves my intimacy with Him. And I treasure His speaking. Therefore, my heart's cry daily is, "Lord, speak to me today!" 

The Lord has His own way of speaking to His children. To me, he speaks mostly through the word of God. That's why I make sure that I read my Bible every day. In fact, I have my own schedule of Bible reading every day. I dare not say that He speaks to me every time I read the Bible. But I do say that He speaks to me in the midst of my Bible reading by using the word that I am reading. Out of the many verses and chapters I read every day, often He will lighten up some of the Bible verses and turn the logos into rhema. That's how I know that God speaks to me. And He does it in a very timely manner according to my needs and situation. 

The Lord also speaks to me during my prayer time. Be it in the morning when I kneel before Him in my bedroom. Or when I go out to the park to take a prayer-walk. In fact, I make it a point to take at least an hour of prayer-walk every night when I finish all my daily work. The Lord has given me a beautiful park near my house where I can just go and walk and pray for hours at any time of the day or night. I call that park, my "prayer park." While reading the word of God, the Lord speaks often using the word even without me specifically asking for the Lord's speaking. But when I go to pray, I specifically seek His speaking and His presence. I come before Him with my burdens and queries. Many times, I was not able to make decisions concerning practical things related to my life, family life, official life, or church life. So during my time spent with the Lord in prayer, I bring all my burdens and pour it out to him. Then, He speaks to me. Sometimes, immediately, at other times, I had to wait for a period of time. But, He ultimately let me know His feelings concerning the burdens I poured out to Him. In that way, I have made many decisions only after praying the matter thoroughly over and getting to know the Lord's mind, feelings, and decisions.

The Lord also speaks to me in dreams as He did to many saints in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Recently, I had a couple of dreams and I could discern what the Lord intended to let me know. The dreams pertain to something the Lord wanted me to know and be prepared for it. The dream did not specify when that thing He made known would transpire. But having known, I simply prepared myself to handle the situation when it will be fulfilled.

The Lord also speaks to me in the fellowship of the Body of Christ. Many times I am not aware of certain things that I intend to neglect. But the Lord let me know that I should take action through the fellowship of the Body; through a brother's direct speaking to me or through a general fellowship. Then I take action realizing it is the will of the Lord.

And oftentimes too, the Lord speaks through circumstances. The happening around people, matters, and things, also gives me a clear direction concerning the Lord's will. I must open myself to the Lord to discern what He is speaking through the circumstances. In addition, He also speaks through songs, hymns, prophesies, messages, fellowship, etc.

I do believe there are other ways in which God speaks to His children. Whatever way the Lord takes to speak, the important point is that I must hear the Lord's speaking, the more the better. Even as a friend communes with a friend. Or even better, by just being one with the Lord when my livng becomes His living, my speaking His peaking, my feeling His feeling, and be one with God in every matter great or small.

Above all, what I need is the Lord's speaking, today. 

Lord, speak to me today and every day.

Life Lesson: Attending a Marriage Meeting

A few weeks ago, I received an invitation from a family for the marriage of a brother and a sister. This family has been in the church life since I first met their first son-in-law way back in 2006. Gradually, everyone of them got saved and are now in the church life in New Delhi. It was for the marriage of the last and fifth daughter of this family that sent me an invitation.

Due to my frequent travel schedules, I initially thought to skip this meeting. However, the Lord had a different plan. Though I intended not to join, a brother reminded me of this meeting yesterday. Even then I told him I had no plan to attend. Yet when he reminded me again of the invitation and the family's expectation, I told I would consider. Last night, as I was praying about this, the Lord told me that I should attend the wedding meeting. I gave up my own decision and decided to  follow the Body's fellowship. 

Today morning, some of us from the church in Gurugram attended the marriage meeting. From the time we stepped into the marriage hall I realised that the Lord had a portion for me in this marriage meeting. Firstly, to pray with the brothers from the church in Delhi and Gurugram, standing together as one for this marriage and testimony meeting. Secondly, in the meeting I had my portion to offer in prayer for this couple at the start of the meeting and at the conclusion of the meeting, blessing the couple for the Lord’s testimony. Now, I am quite clear why I had to attend this wedding meeting.

The bride is a sister in the church life and the groom is a brother in Christ from another Christian group. Nonetheless, the testimony meeting was conducted by the saints in the church life. Though it was not a conventional marriage meeting as such, Christ has been given the headship and every item from prayer to singing to testimonies to marriage message to the final conclusion blessing were all done to the glory of God. Not even the bride and groom were the center. They were just type of the unique universal marriage to happen, Christ and the church. All our lives on this earth are directed towards this one goal, Christ and the church. And this marriage meeting is a foretaste. Praise the Lord!

My one unique prayer for the couple is for them to love the Lord and love one another in the love of Christ, and to be one with the Lord and with one another for the Lord’s testimony. 

By attending this meeting, I got to fellowship with two young brothers concerning following the Lord’s leading in our lives as we travelled together by Delhi Metro. Besides, my elder sister who came to visit us in Gurugram also joined us in this meeting. It was an opportunity for her to participate in the wedding meeting conducted in the church life. Then, after so many years, my elder sister and I were able to capture a photo together for remembrance. 

Sometimes, we are not clear what needs to be done, especially me, in many practical matters in the church life. However, by being in the Body, the Lord uses a member of the Body to lead me in practical matters. Had it not been my brother's fellowship for me to attend this wedding I would have missed offering my portion, and the saints would also miss my portion. Therefore, it is imperative to be open and flexible in the coordination in the Body. Even if I had no feeling, I still could follow the Body's feeling and move along with it. I thank the Lord for my brother who helped me to function in the Body as I ought to.

This is indeed an important life lesson in the Body life for the Body of Christ. Praise the Lord for the Body!

The Spirit’s Leading in the Ministry Literature Journey in North India

The Lord has been moving in India and as a serving one, I have been simply following the Lord's move in introducing and distributing the ministry of the word to whoever and wherever the Lord leads. The report of such one ministry journey in North India was requested by the brothers and was published as The Leading of the Spirit in the Ministry Literature Journey in North India (lsm.org). The one I drafted is below. 

May the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ continue to work in the being of all those who have heard and received this ministry. 

And when they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia,

yet the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. And bypassing Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul during the night: A certain man, a Macedonian, was standing and entreating him and saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. And when he had seen the vision, we immediately endeavored to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to announce the gospel to them. Acts 16:7-10

The literature service in India has been translating the ministry books into twelve Indian languages, out of which, Hindi is the most spoken and read all over North India. The serving ones have been traveling for the introduction and distribution of Hindi ministry books to all the Hindi speaking states.  

The Lord has been moving in the northern part of India where the majority of the populace are yet to receive the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, among the minorities who have believed into the Lord Jesus, in many states even lower than 1%, the Lord has His remnants reserved for His testimony. And to this scattered handful, the Spirit led the brothers in the recent past.

The brothers’ initial plan was to go to Uttar Pradesh, yet the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. Instead, they changed their plan at the last minute and went to Haryana. Then, they realized it was the Lord’s specific leading at this time for this state. As they followed the Spirit’s leading locality by locality, they witnessed and enjoyed what the Lord had already prepared; leading them to meet the right people at the right place at the right time to whom they could introduce and distribute the ministry literature and also minister the timely word of God. Though they set out to visit only six cities from 8 to 12 September, the Lord led them to fourteen localities! This was the fulfillment of the “Macedonian (Haryanvi-Punjabi, the languages spoken by the local seekers) Call” in Acts 16:7-10 they received on the 8^th of September before they set out for this ministry journey.

One of the key Pastors they met previously and had purchased the entire set of ministry books in Hindi had gathered together the key Christian leaders in his locality. Since he appreciated the truth so much, he himself promoted the ministry books to other Christian leaders. The brothers then conducted a mini-conference for all these leaders and presented the truth using the ministry books. The key Pastor himself made arrangements for such meetings in a few other localities as well, opening more new doors for the spread of the ministry!

In another town, the President of the Pastors’ Association and a group of key Christian leaders with their spouses came together to listen to what the brothers had to say. The brothers followed the burden released in the recent training and released the high-peak truth, God becoming man to make man God in life and nature but not in the Godhead. The Christian leaders all marveled at this simple yet basic truth in the Bible and wondered how this had been hidden from them for so many years. They were so nourished with the truth that they received the free ministry books and also purchased the title books. They even requested a revisit as they wanted more Christian leaders and believers to hear what they had just heard. One among them, a Pastor, was so impressed by the ministry books that he purchased the entire set of Hindi books. Though he could hardly read English, after listening to the brothers’ introduction of the Holy Bible Recovery Version, he still purchased it as he could not wait for the Hindi New Testament Recovery Version. Likewise, many Hindi seekers requested for the Hindi translation of the Recovery Version.

A group of Christian leaders in a locality were so eager to read the ministry books in Hindi after it was introduced to them. They were so glad that the truth had finally been brought to them as they acknowledged that apart from the Bible there was no good Christian literature in Hindi.

In another city, three key Pastors met with the brothers and enquired what was “this ministry,” as there were many other “ministries” already spreading, including cult and heretical groups. The brothers simply presented the truth in a way of introducing the ministry books and the Holy Bible Recovery Version. They all marveled at the depth of the truth in the ministry. Though the brothers planned to move to another city, they requested them to stay overnight, giving more time for fellowship. One of the Pastors who gave hospitality testified that through the brothers’ visitation God had visited his family as He visited Abraham with three men in Genesis 18:2.

In another town, as the brothers visited a group whose Pastor invited them on the Lord’s Day, his mother testified of the vision she saw on the 7^th of September during her prayer time that three men in white dress would visit them. On the 10^th of September, when they met them, she immediately declared to the entire congregation that the Lord had fulfilled the vision she saw a few days ago. Therefore, even before the brothers introduced themselves or the ministry, they blindly invited them to minister the word to their congregation on the Lord’s Day meeting. The Lord gave the brothers the timely word as they showed them the way to breathe, drink, and eat the Lord!

As the brothers revisited a Pastor in another city whom they met on their previous trip, he testified of the new light he saw as he read the Holy Bible Recovery Version with the footnotes, especially on the church. He even requested for an online training to make the truth known to all his coworkers serving in North India.

The Lord specifically led the brothers step by step to meet with His seekers. Most of them were visited and the ministry books introduced and distributed for the first time. The Lord’s testimony is yet to be raised up in all these localities. Praise the Lord!

North India Seekers Conference and Blending

September 15-17, 2023

Thirty-three seeking believers 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 seekers’ conference and blending in Delhi and Gurugram.  This conference was primarily to open up the word of God to the seeking believers and provide an opportunity for these ones to see the practical church life.

The book The Application of the Interpretation of the New Jerusalem to the Seeking Believers was used for this conference with a group of brothers coordinated together to share the word. This was followed by the reading of the ministry portion in groups, and then sharing by the seekers. A number of 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. The seekers also participated in the church life in the place of their hospitality. Through the blending with the saints in the church life, it afforded the opportunity for the seeking ones to see a corporate living by a group of saints as a testimony in that city.

Please remember in prayer the Lord’s continual move in North India, especially for those who have received the ministry book so that the Lord may enlighten them to see what the economy of the mystery is and gain them fully, even unto the raising of His testimony in their respective localities in the coming days.  

A Visit to Chennai

Last weekend there was a National College and Students Training in Chennai. Initially, I had no plan to attend this training for multiple reasons. I have been traveling a lot for official purposes and I thought I could just escape this time. Besides, I did not have any function in this training except to accompany my family and the young people in the church in Gurugram. I was hoping that my cousin brother would go and I stay back to take of the office matters as both of us cannot be out of station at the same time. First, I gave him the opportunity. Since he decided not to attend, I had the opportunity. Therefore, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me. Though inwardly I wish I could escape this training this time, I received much blessing by attending this training. Praise the Lord!

Firstly, as I accompanied my family members and the saints, I became a guardian for them, leading them for this training in coordination with another brother. Secondly, I had enough time to read my Bible and also rest in the train which had been due for me amidst my busy schedule. During the train journey, thirty three hours down and thirty two hours up, I had ample time to rest, pray, and also read the Bible in addition to fellowshipping with the brothers who travelled with us. Thirdly, I had a very subjective experience of being dealt with in my inward being, learning to be nobody with no specific function, but actively participating in the meeting with the younger saints. This was a very important life lesson the Lord has been teaching me these days. The lesson of submission to all God ordained authority great or small. Fourthly, I could also fellowship with a brother intimately about his personal and marital struggle, helping him learn important lessons in marriage relationship. I even testified of what the Lord has been doing in my marriage life and how the Lord blessed my family life by simply accepting His sovereign arrangement. Fifthly, it was a family "vacation" to travel together for a couple of days away from home. When the opportunity arose on our way back after the training, we enjoyed a family time at the Marina Beach and had a dinner lovefeast at a restaurant in the railway station. All these are the tangible blessings in this trip. I do believe there may be many other benefits that I am yet to be aware of.

Now, I worship the Lord and thank Him for this blessed training. What a loss it would be if I were to miss this training! Thank the Lord for this opportunity and this blessing in disguise!

Praise the Lord!

Love the Brotherhood

Honor all men. Love the Brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1 Peter 2:17 

“Do not speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. One is Lawgiver and Judge, who is able to save and destroy. But who are you who judge your neighbor?” (James 4:11-12, RecVer)

“Do not complain, brothers, against one another lest you be judged. Behold, the Judge stands before the doors. As an example, brothers, of suffering evil and of long-suffering, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:9-10, RecVer)

The Lord has been teaching me this precious lesson of loving the brothers. Especially, the brothers in Christ with the same faith and vision practicing the same church life. I deeply honor and respect all the brothers in the Lord even if they do not hold similar spiritual visions and burdens I dearly hold. Therefore, I am very careful not to utter anything quickly about anyone until I was led by the Lord to do so. Even if I were to do so, I would only do it to the few concerned brothers for the sake of fellowship and consideration. 

Besides, in the recent training, the Lord’s speaking was on how to conduct oneself in the house of God. One such principle is, honoring the headship of Christ. To direct the saints or give suggestions or opine concerning their situation is an usurpation of the headship of Christ. I have been warned well enough, time and again. Therefore, I dare not say anything about any brothers so freely and loosely. 

It makes me very uneasy when I hear about brothers fellowshipping about another brother in a loose way. In some cases I know of, even trying to direct them in the name of fellowship what to do and what not to do. I was in fear and trembling when I heard of such "fellowship." Well, there may be a good reason to justify this very deed with the fact that they were overseeing the brothers concerned. Well, I am no judge in this matter. But as far as I am concerned, even though I have an official position and spiritual right to say something to the brothers who come for fellowship, I do so with inward fear and trembling discerning in my spirit what to say and what not to say. In the past, I also failed in strongly expressing my opinions and feelings to saints who came for fellowship. But now, I will be very careful.

I also sensed that some brothers also opined about me. I left myself and the brothers to the Lord. Though I knew some of their opinions about me were not fully of the Lord, I did not raise my voice to counter them. I left the matter to the Lord to deal with it. I learned to take the cross and let the Spirit work. Surely indeed, the Spirit worked and in my very witness and others too, what the Spirit intended was carried out contrary to the brothers' opinion. This was a spiritual test for me. Learning to take the Father's wise bestowment against my natural man and let Him do whatever He pleases to do. But as for me, I decided not to speak against my brothers, or complain or murmur against them. Only if the Lord leads me so, I will speak only the utterance the Spirit will give me. I fear God and I love my brothers. This is a lesson I recently learned from my own experience, from the training, and also from my reading of the Bible.

Lord, gain my inward being that I may be always one with You in every matter even concerning my brothers.