Ministry of the Word to Koraput, Odisha

The first time we visited Odisha was in 2014 when we met seekers in Khariar Road, Koraput, and Jeypore. During that visit, one brother who had previously received the Rhema books was gained to translate the ministry books (Rhema Sets) into Odia and another brother volunteered to distribute the ministry books and became a distributor for a couple of years. After nine years, the ministry books in Odia was finally printed. These Odia booklets along with English ministry books were used for introducing the ministry to the Christian leaders and seekers in some select cities of Odisha. It was done so in coordination with the brothers in churches in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.  

Koraput 

The Lord us to introduce the ministry books and the Holy Bible Recovery Version to a seeking brother who happens to be a Bishop, President of Christian Pastors Association, and TV Preacher in Oriya. He first received the books by Watchman Nee in 1993. In 2015 he had a radical turn in his spiritual life, and since then he has been reading the ministry writings at www.ministrybooks.org, especially the Life-study of Romans and Philippians. He also listens to the Life-study Radio programs at www.lsmradio.com. Until we met him on 2nd Nov 2023 he thought he was the only one reading and enjoying the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee in India. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Living Stream Ministry for making the ministry materials available online. He also introduces and promotes the writings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee to other believers. Though he was a Bishop and a well known Christian leader and preacher in Christianity, he testified that we were the only people with whom he could enjoy a genuine brotherly fellowship with the flow of life. As he has been reconsidering his way of serving the Lord, the Lord led us to him at the right time. He openly confessed that he needed a change and frankly asked how he could take the way of the Lord’s recovery. In fact, the following week he visited the churches in Gurugram and New Delhi and fellowshipped with the brothers there. He testified that he was so joyful and richly supplied by the brothers’ fellowship, learned many new things, and requested for more fellowship in the coming days.

After the introduction of the ministry books and the Holy Bible Recovery Version to him, he was very impressed by the depth of the truth and he purchased the ministry books of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee and also promoted the Holy Bible Recovery Version to all who can read English in his congregation after the Lord’s Day meeting. He also received 12 boxes of free Oriya booklets from Rhema Literature Distributor for a further introduction and distribution among many Oriya speaking Christians in Koraput district.

The Lord opened the door for the ministering of the truth to the seeking believers in Koraput. The high peak truth of God’s economy was ministered during a time of fellowship with the key serving ones of the group. The speaking Spirit could freely speak the truth as they all were so hungry for the word of God. In hunger and thirst for the word of God, they opened their mouth wide and the Lord fed and filled them!

The Lord has opened a wide door for the distribution and spread of the ministry literature through this brother who himself has been shepherded by the ministry books. On the Lord’s day we ministered the word of God to the congregation of believers on the line of God's full salvation with testimonies of the experiences of God's sanctifying and transforming in a believers life. After the meeting, the leading brother introduced the Holy Bible Recovery Version and 25 of the believers who can read English placed order for the Bible! One believer was in tears as he saw for the first time brother Watchman Nee’s book in Odia language!

We were also taken to a nearby town Semiliguda where we were given the opportunity to minister the truth and distribute the ministry books to seekers, one evening.

A week later, this key brother came for a

church visit to Gurugram and New Delhi on the 12 November 2023. We had a wonderful time of fellowship with the brothers and he practically saw the church life he has read about in the ministry books. Even as I drove him to Delhi and back to Gurugram, I also fellowshipped with him many practical ways of living out the church life and narrated the  testimonies of a good number of brothers and sisters how they came to the church life. He was very much impressed by all the fellowships and testimonies. He told me that he would look forward to more fellowship in the future. And he would pray how the Lord would lead him to take further necessary step for the recovery of the Lord's testimony in his locality.

Lord, recover Your testimony in Koraput soon!

An Experience of Caesarea Philippi

“Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of Man is? And they said, Some, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, But you, who do you say that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in the heavens. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:13-18, RecVer)

In the first week of this month, a brother and I went to visit a brother in Koraput, Odisha who was introduced to me by another brother as lover of the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. As we were picked up by this brother from Jagdalpur airport, we briefly visited a family and then went to Koraput. As we drove, we could not have a face to face fellowship. So we were lodged in a hotel for the night and the next day we had a time of fellowship with the brother. 

We were driven to an outskirt of the city to the meeting hall and training center owned by the brother. It was on a beautiful valley facing a lush green mountain ranges. Under a clear sky amidst soft breeze of fresh air, we began our fellowship. It was outwardly a place like Caesarea Philippi and spiritually too, where we could fellowship at length concerning Christ and the church. 

The fellowship began by introducing the Holy Bible Recovery Version using verses to proof it's accuracy in translation and footnotes to assist in understanding important spiritual meanings. Then the fellowship went on to the truth concerning the church as revealed in the Bible and the practical church life. We also narrated how the Lord began the recovery of the normal and practical church life since Br. Watchman Nee's time that speard all over Siuth East Asia and further to the West, Europe, and all over the world through the ministry continued by Br. Witness Lee. We also gave some testimonies of the recovery of the church life in different parts of India. We all enjoyed the fellowship that lasted for over four and half hours. The experience was like that of the Lord and His disciples in Caesarea Philippi where the Lord unveiled Himself and His church. We could fellowship freely without any cloud veiling us and enjoyed the flow of life richly as we fellowshipped. In fact, as we finished our fellowship, we prayed together. Then the brother testifed that it was his first time in his Christian ministry that he enjoyed a true fellowship with genuine brothers with the rich flow of life.

Later in the evening, we had a time of fellowship with the key leading ones in the local church there. Since the leading brother had already taught the believers with the basic truth he learned online from the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, it was easier for us to minister the high peak truth. We freely and boldly ministered God’s economy of God becoming a man to man God in life and nature but not in the Godhead. To my surprise, they were all able to receive it without much hesitation or difficulty. Generally, we did not ministry the high peak truth at the first meeting. But with this group, the Lord led us to minister the deeper truth and they could receive it. Praise the Lord!

This was our experience and enjoyment of Caesarea Philippi in Koraput, Odisha. I do believe, the Lord is working on these one foe the recovery of His testimony in this city among the Oriya speaking brothers and sisters.

Lord, may you accomplish Your work of recovery that You started until Your testimony is fully recovered in this city and throughout the entire state of Odisha.

Fellowship: Critical and Crucial yet Comforting

Since the past few weeks, I have been experiencing a series of serious fellowship with a few brothers concerning their spiritual situation that also very much affected their daily living. The fellowships were very critical in nature, but they very crucial too as it affected their lives so much. And the fellowship towards the end were all very comforting.

All these fellowships were initiated by the persons themselves. As a brother, I opened myself to them and carefully listened to whatever they had to say. As I learned from Br. Watchman Nee, I listened carefully with my ears outwardly and prayed inwardly with my spirit for the Lord's light and revelation concerning each of them. I also tried to discern what was the actual situation and what was the Lord’s feeling concerning each case. I also learned to listened to what they did not say but was lying hidden beneath their tongues. It was a good exercise of my spirit to touch their spirits and also exercised to be one spirit with the Lord.

After listening to whatever they had to say, I expressed the feeling the Lord gave me deep within to each one of them. As I fellowshipped with them, I enjoyed the Lord flow of life and I believe it was the Lord who spoke to each one according to their need. I had much clarity and light within, as I released the burden the Lord gave me for each one of them. I believe, the Lord gave me this experience of being one spirit with the Lord. Then, I enjoyed praying together with each one of them and sensed the flow of life according to their situation. Each one of them went through different situations and each one's need were different.

I also have been reminded by the Lord about not usurping the headship of Christ. Therefore, I did not give them any direction as to what they should do. But to each one, I encouraged them to go before the Lord and submit themselves fully to the Lord. They should simply trust the Lord in their situation and honor the sovereignty of the Lord. I also warned each one of them not to make decision on their own nor do things on their own. But trust the Lord wholly for His work upon each one of them through their situation. The will of the Lord be done and not their own will. 

I do believe they will honor the fellowship and the Lord will preserve each one of them for His divine purpose. I do believe that they will give up their own opinions and feelings and follow the Lord's leading at all cost. May the Lord grace each one of them and gain them to be useful vessels to the Lord.

Life Lesson: God Rescues

Today, one of my greatest mistakes I ever made in my official decision-making was rectified. I took a shortcut route to make things easier and ended up entangled in over a year's period of regrets for not making the best decision. Anyhow, God has been sovereign in leading me to experience Him more deeply. He finally arranged a way for me to fully come out of this situation. The matter is simple, the shortest way is the longest way, and the easiest way is the most difficult way.

In 2019, as a company, we imported a container of Bibles and ministry books from USA. As soon as the cargo arrived at our godown, Covid 19 struck and the whole world was locked down for over a period of a year or so. But before India locked down, we delivered all the special orders to all our customers. During the lockdown period, though we could hardly make any sales of books, what were sold on installment were paid back monthly which became our source of income to keep us floating even when there was barely any business. Thank the Lord for His sovereign provision!

For the payback of the bill amount, I made a decision to adjust with our quarterly budget installment from our parent entity to which we provided literature service. In about two years period, all the bills were paid for. But the mistake I made was that I did not use the bank to pay back the bill, so in the record of the local and central bank, the bills remain unpaid though we actually paid in full to our parent entity. The outward remittance was not carried out but the bills were all paid for by adjusting with the service we rendered. As far as our company and our parent entity are concerned, all bills were cleared. But with the records in the banks, they were still pending. Therefore, every month we receive a reminder for payment from the bank.

I really thought I made the biggest blunder of my life. I even repented before the Lord for this mistake. But the Lord made a way out for me. In 2022, we purchased another bulk copy of New Testament in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Mizo. They were all printed in India so there was no import involved. But the bills were in our company’s name. So, to pay these bills off, these 2019 imported books bills became a channel to pay. Though the route was clear we did not have enough funds then. Only this month beginning, we completed an export to a company in Africa that bought bulk books from us. This amount together with all the sales of the New Testament Recovery Version till date gave us enough money to clear all these pending bills. After so much process in getting documents, today we were able to pay off successfully, giving a big relief from the condemning thought in mind. Finally, it has all been cleared!

I learned very important lessons in life; to never take shortcuts nor compromise on any work in order to get things done more easily. I am so thankful to the Lord for leading me through this and providing the means to sort this matter once and for all. I have learned a lot, spiritually and officially, how to do things in the proper and righteous way all the time.

Thank You, Lord, for this experience of learning from You and gaining You through all these life experiences. 

Lord, You are sovereign. I worship You for Your ways in perfecting me even when I make mistakes. Thank You, Lord!

Amen and Amen

In the recent fellowship with a  brother, though the response from the saints was not initially strong, that became a trigger point to bring forth the need to exercise our spirit in the meeting and receive the ministry of the word with resounding amens and amens. This is not a religious declaration nor a ritualist formality. But a genuine agreement in one accord with the word that has been ministered. A proper Christian meeting should not be uni-directional but multi-directional. The minister ministers the word, and the recipients receive the word not merely as coming from the minister but in agreement with the minister himself. Meaning, the minister's ministry of the words is the ministered ministry of the word too. It is only that one minister and the other receives and the recipients too minister by being one with the minister himself. Therefore, the ministry of the word is multi-directional. Though in a ministry message meeting, one seems to minister, actually all ministers together in oneness with the one who ministers. The minister and the ministered are all one. The minister may minister according to the Lord's burden imparted to him, but all the saints receive the ministry not merely as recipients but also in oneness with the minister by simply amening the ministry of the word. This is the significance of the saints opening their mouths wide and the Lord feeding them with His word through the minister. 

“I am Jehovah your God, Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalms 81:10, RecVer)

This reveals that in the church meetings during the apostle’s time, when one prayed, all the others said Amen, even “the Amen” with emphasis. 

“For as many promises of God as there are, in Him is the Yes; therefore also through Him is the Amen to God, for glory through us to God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20, RecVer)

When we say Amen before God to the fact that Christ is the Yes, the fulfillment, of all the promises of God, God is glorified through us.

In the Old Testament time too, there was the practice of saying amen to the word of God. 

“And Ezra blessed Jehovah the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.” (Nehemiah 8:6, RecVer) 

So that he who blesses himself in the earth will bless himself in the God of faithfulness, and he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of faithfulness; Because the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hidden from My sight. (Isaiah 65:16)  

Lit., the God of Amen (twice in this verse); “i.e., the God who turns what He promises into Yea and Amen (2 Cor. 1:20)” (Keil and Delitzsch). Rev. 19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who sits upon the throne, saying, Amen, Hallelujah! 

I was helped to understand based on the word of God that I must exercise my spirit to receive the ministry of the word by amening the word of God. This is a sign of a normal and living  Christian meeting.

“Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the unlearned in tongues say the Amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?” (1 Corinthians 14:16, RecVer)

Always amen the word of God by saying, "Amen!"

Good Land Flowing With Milk and Honey

“Your lips drip fresh honey, my bride; Honey and milk are under your tongue; And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.” (Song of Solomon 4:11, RecVer)

“In my heart I have treasured up Your word That I might not sin against You.” (Psalms 119:11, RecVer)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16, RecVer)

The constitution of the word of God is not an overnight matter but gathered through accumulation over a long period of time. During this long period of gathering, the Lord also will work on us inwardly with much inward activity now and then. This adds up to careful storage over a long period of time. This will thus become our unique possession of the faithful word and healthy teaching. 

For the gathering, we must pay the price and spend time reading and studying the word of God even with the help of the ministry of the word. This must be followed by the inward activity of the Spirit's move in our inward being. Without such an inward activity of the Lord, all our outward knowledge and services would not value much to God or to the saints. We must have a lot of inward activities which we must further sustain in the Holy Spirit. In the course of time, we can bring up the old treasures collected and use them under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This is the honey and milk under the tongue and our lips can drip fresh honey whenever needed to whoever needs them. It will be fresh bread and oil to the hearer. This is the treasure the psalmist referred to in the Old Testament, "In my heart I have treasured up Your word." In the New Testament, it is "the word of Christ dwelling in you richly." To have such indwelling treasure is to be rich in the Lord for ourselves and also for our brothers and sisters. This is to be a good minister of Christ.

Now, I understand why the good land promised by the Lord for His people is a land flowing with milk and honey. The physical description of all the riches of the good land are types of the different aspects of the unsearchable riches of Christ. We must experience and enjoy the Lord in all the aspects of the riches of the good land.

“But I have said to you, You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am Jehovah your God, who has separated you from the peoples.” (Leviticus 20:24, RecVer)

“For Jehovah your God is bringing you to a good land, a land of waterbrooks, of springs and of fountains, flowing forth in valleys and in mountains; A land of wheat and barley and vines and fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive trees with oil and of honey; A land in which you will eat bread without scarcity; you will not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and from whose mountains you can mine copper. And you shall eat and be satisfied, and you shall bless Jehovah your God for the good land which He has given you.” (Deuteronomy 8:7-10, RecVer)

Now that we have been saved and that Christ the good land flowing with milk and honey lives in us. Therefore, we must labor on Him day and night to extract all the unsearchable riches of Christ. Then store up these riches of Christ as our rich treasure to supply to the needy ones in time of need. To the extent that our lips must drip fresh honey, honey and milk are in our tongues, treasuring up God's word and making Christ dwell in us richly.

Lord, may I enjoy Your unsearchable richness flowing with milk and honey all the days of my life.

Good Minister of Christ

One of the messages in the recent ITERO, Manila training impressed me deeply on my need to be a good minister of Christ. This message is based on what Paul wrote to Timothy. 

1 Timothy 4:6-8; 15,16

If you lay these things before the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, being nourished with the words of the faith and of the good teaching which you have closely followed. But the profane and old-womanish myths refuse, and exercise yourself unto godliness. For bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the present life and of that which is to come. Faithful is the word and worthy of all acceptance. Practice these things; be in them, that your progress may be manifest to all. Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things; for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Based on the message of the brother who ministered the word and also on truth points presented in the Bible and the outline of the message, I composed a hymn as my personal enjoyment of the message and also an encouragement to become a minister of Christ Jesus. This message was respoken and emphasized again during the serving ones training we had in New Delhi right after the live training which I was graced to attend in Manila. Therefore, I was all the more encouraged to learn and be perfected to be a good minister of Christ Jesus. The hymn is below. Perhaps, it may need more polishing.

Service: Good Minister of Christ
Composed on 6 October 2023
The message in the ITERO Oct 2023, Manila, Philippines, impressed me a lot on the need to live and serve according to God’s economy, on being “A Good Minister of Christ.”

Key: Bb Major
Time:3/4
Meter:12.8.12.8. with chorus.
Hymn Code:345465556576
Tune #1191 “From My Spirit Within”
 
1) Good minister of Christ is first nourished by Christ,
By eating God’s word as his food;
Goes and speaks faithful words to the saints to supply,
Riches of Christ, spiritual food.
 
     Lord, make me Your minister of life-
     A good minister of Christ Jesus,
     Ministering the sweet flow of life
     By exercising my spirit thus.
 
2) Good minister of Christ sacrifices himself,
Stands absolutely for the truth;
Takes the truth faithfully as his unique standard,
Bless’d by going along with the truth.
 
3) Good minister of Christ speaks oracle of God,
Steward of varied grace of God,
With spirit exercise, self-denial, exalt Christ
Glorifying and expressing God!

4) Good minister of Christ lives by the tree of life
Ministers life and serves the saints.
Takes Christ as the center; not persons, things, matters,
And solves the problems of the saints.
 
5) Good minister of Christ helps the saints in one thing,
To experience and enjoy Christ;
Pursues Christ to gain Christ, lays hold Christ, possess Christ;
To obtain the goal for the prize!
 
6) Good minister of Christ, loving seekers of Christ,
Stores up riches of Christ as food,
Gathered o’er long period, inward deeds being taught
Healthy teachings as spiritual food.
 
7) Good minister of Christ serves with burden from God
Bears people’s burden before God,
Sense their condition and knows what God wants to speak
Serves the saints according to God!

Lord, make me Your minister of life, a good minister of Christ Jesus, ministering the sweet flow of life by exercising my spirit!