Life Lesson: Taking Fellowship

In one of our weekly fellowships, the need for providing a healthy and daily spiritual food to the saints speaking Kokborok in Tripura in the form of HWMR was brought up. According to that fellowship, the serving ones in the literature service would bear the responsibility to find some potential translators. Since then, I have been considering the proper time to go visit the saints in their localities and find out the way to get proper serving ones. Last week, that fellowship was carried out. A brother and I spent three and a half days to visit Tripura and introduced and distributed the ministry literature among the local Christian leaders besides fellowshipping with the saints and also seeking for some potential translators. Finally, we concluded with four potential translators in Kokborok, two of them have been translating and checking already, and the other two were MA in Kokborok, one of them still pursuing the degree, to whom we imparted the burden for translation. The Lord led us and honored the burden for which we came to the state this time for. May the Lord continue to preserve these ones to be faithful and useful vessels unto Him.

About a year ago, one of the leading brothers in the North East called and informed be about a brother in Tripura who had coordinated with me in my past visit five years ago. I took the brother's fellowship and did not make any further contact with that one. I had no idea of the actual situation of that brother but I trust the brother's word as he would not mention things to me if it were not serious. So when I came to visit the state this time, I honored the brother's fellowship and did not contact him at all. Later, through the local brothers I came to learn of the facts and confirmed what a brother warned me of. The two main reasons were, first, the matter of purity in the Lord’s recovery and second, the matter of holiness in contacting the saints. As I was informed, it was thus confirmed. And I was glad that I was able to take the brother's fellowship. Though I had no personal problem with him, I should not put my natural love against the fellowship. Since I could not visit him, I, at least, could pray for the Lord to purify his heart, heal, and recover him back to the fellowship of the Body. In fact, I took the initiative to pray for this brother's healing and recovery with the local brothers. I do believe, one day, the Lord will fully recover him into the fellowship of the Body again.

Though the visit to Tripura was not in my plan at all, when a brother called me, I realized it was of the Lord. I took it to prayer and fellowshipped with my brothers and also with my wife for all practical arrangement. At times, I would be led, and other times, I must follow the Lord's leading through a member of His Body. Either way, it was the Lord’s leading. And I was blessed to be able to amen the proposal. Therefore, I also received the blessing and enjoyed the Lord’s working in me again through this ministry of the word literature journey this time.

Ministry of the Word to Malda, West Bengal

Malda, one of the cities in West Bengal, popped up in one of the meetings we had with a brother in Bokaro. We thought that he had a good contact here, therefore, we planned to visit this city for the distribution of the ministry literature in Bengali. But as we planned and was about to come, he could not be contacted and we were left with no contact. A serving brother tried his best to find seeking contacts in Malda but to no avail. Since we already planned our trip to this city, I was told to find some contacts somehow. That being the case, I searched for "Christians in Malda" on Google. As I Google searched, one contact via facebook gained my attention. So I called the number right away. It so happened that it was the same person contacted by another person, but he backed down to meet with us citing his busy schedule. When as I spoke to him, he finally agreed to meet on the same day we arrive Malda after his Bible studies, about 8:30 pm. By the way, we arrived Malda at about 7:30 pm. Besides, on his suggestion I also booked a hotel room online.

The moment we arrived Malda, we went straight to our hotel room. Once we settled down and was ready, I called the contact I got over the net the day before. He turned up and met us. We did our best to introduce the ministry to him. Though he did not show much interest in it, he touched something of the Lord and changed his mind after meeting with us. As we fellowshipped a while and prayed, he gave us an impromptu invitation to join with him the next day to his group of leaders meeting some 25 kms away from the city. We readily agreed to it. At our first meeting, he did not show any interest in the ministry literature as he claimed to be already very occupied  

The next day, we went along with him to his leaders meeting. On his request, we shared the word of God for an hour. I specifically ministered the word on the need to grow in life unto full maturity by feeding on the gutless milk of the word. I began with 1 Timothy 2:4, and connected the need for the coming to the full knowleged of the truth with Romans 8:29, "conformed to the image of His (Firstborn) Son" and Ephesians 4:13 "the full grown man". I emphasized the need for "eating Jesus" using the relevant verses in John 6:32, 33, 35, 41, 48, 50, 51, 57, 58, 63 along with Matthew 4:4, and 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. Initially, I was not sure what to minister, but when the time came, the Lord just released the word, verse by verse. Then the 300 set of free BXL 1,2,3 in Bengali were all distributed to the 30 leaders who attended the meeting. Though the key brother was not very interest in the printed books, he became a channel through whom these books could be distributed.

Later, on our way back, we went for sight seeing to three historical sites and took an afternoon nap. Though, the key brother said he was too busy to meet us again, at the last minute he agreed to come and meet us again at our hotel room. When he did come, he finally asked to see the ministry books we brought. Though he still insisted that he did not have time to read, as we introduce the ministry books, he got interested and expressed his desire to get some books. In fact, he literally asked for some books, Messages for Building Up New Believers, and Song of Songs. Deep within me, I felt the burden to give him three books, The Normal Christian Church Life, The Genuine Ground of Oneness, and The Orthodoxy of the Church, as he shared his understanding of the local churches meeting at homes and the need for oneness among the believers today. Finally, when he left, he thanked us for the gifts. The one who said he was not interested in books as "he reads only the word of God directly and that he has no time for books" finally ended up receiving seven ministry books that can help him see the Lord’s heart's desire as revealed in the Bible concerning the Christian life and the church life. Praise the Lord that the Lord indeed has His way of distributing His ministry among His chosen remnants.

After one day visit to Malda city not knowing, the Lord has accomplished His purpose again! 

May the Lord open the eyes of His chosen ones to hunger and thirst for the word of God and receive help from the ministry of the word.

Lord, gain Your remnants in Malda unto the raising up of Your testimony one day!

Seeking for Kokborok Translators

Five years ago, I came to Tripura for the introduction and distribution of the ministry literature to the Christian leaders in Agartala and nearby localities. A brother coordinated with me at that time. Wherever we went, whomever we met, the Lord blessed the distribution. We had a good sales too. This time, the main burden was to seek out proper translators to bring the ministry literature into Kokborok, the main language read and spoken by the native people. This was our prayers and fellowship with the brothers for this visit to Tripura this time. Though I got the phone numbers of the two best Kokborok translators, they were fully occupied with the projects they are presently engaged in. In fact, they could not be met even. However, the Lord had the best plan for who the translators would be for thr ministry literature.

Through the three and half days visit, the Lord in fellowship manifested four potential translators for Kokborok. Two of them are the ones who coordinated in the past for translating HWMRs and some hymns. Due to certain situations, they were not able to continue regularly. But now, the Lord has been working on them and they also received a fresh burden. They both have agreed to continue the translation service to meet the present need of the saints.

Besides, the Lord also manifested two brothers for the translation. One brother who is currently pursuing Master's degree in Kokborok will involve more in the translation even as he received a fresh burden concerning his education, life, and the present need of the saints. He was very much encouraged when we helped him to see why the Lord led him to study MA in Kokborok and that his life is for the Lord with all the education the Lord has been imparting him with. We also met another brother who has a double degree in MA, one of which is Kokborok. Besides, he has been translating the PM of India's Mann Ki Baat, a monthly radio program. As we fellowshipped with him concerning the Christian life and our usefulness to the Lord, he seriously considered to give his time to bring out the ministry books into Kokborok that will benefit some fourteen lakhs native speakers in Tripura. Though, these two brothers have come forward to do the translation gradually, they also will need the prayers of the Body to uphold them. As this is the Lord’s move, it is also a spiritual battle that must be fought only in the Body with the Body. The leading brothers in the local churches also were revived through all our fellowship to seriously follow up on bringing the ministry materials into their native language, not only for the saints under their shepherding care, but also for all the believers speaking the language. 

After meeting and fellowshiping with these brothers, I deeply thanked the Lord for leading us this time with this specific burden and that has now been accomplished. May the Lord bring to fruition what has been initiated concerning the Kokborok translation service.

Besides, we were also sovereignly led to meet with the top leadership of the main Christian group in the state. On the last day, we had a time of introduction of the ministry literature to the top leadership in the home of a brother who once was the founding president of a prevalent tribal organization. We had a time of love feast fellowship and even stayed at his resident. After all these, with a deep sense of gratitude to the Lord for His leading and guiding, we left the city today morning for another distribution trip to another state, West Bengal.

Lord, bless Your move in Tripura!

Ministry of the Word in Tripura

Today, we attended the Lord’s Table Meeting in Ratchantai, near Agartala in Tripura. As we enjoyed feasting on the Lord through hymns of praises, the brothers invited me to break bread with them. It was a joy indeed to break the bread with the saints in Tripura! After the bread breaking meeting and prophesying meeting, the brothers requested us to minister the word. As usual, my co-working brother ministered first and I followed him with the same burden he released. As I ministered the word following him, the Lord gave me a fresh burden and I released whatever the Lord burdened me with. 

The first burden was the need for shining forth the gospel of the blessed God. This was possible only if we first received the shining of the Lord. As the moon receives it's light from the sun and then reflects it in the dark night, we must also receive the shining light of the Lord and reflect it to this dark world. This reflecting of the Lord’s light is the shining, and this shining is the gospel.

“According to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.” (1 Timothy 1:11, RecVer)

As I ministered, more light dawned upon me and the Lord showed me further light to help the saints in a very practical way. The way to receive the shining is by turning to Him, the Light, and receive His shining. This can be done practically in spending time with the Lord in prayer. I encouraged all the saints to set apart time every day for personal prayer. If possible, at least an hour to fellowship with the Lord, call upon His Name, and pray the burdens the Lord imparts. This must also be done along with the reading of the Bible everyday and picking a verse to pray-read. I further encouraged the saints to not complain about the unavailability of the ministry materials in their native language,  Kokborok. At least, they have the Bible in Kokborok. So thay must be faithful to read the word of God in Kokborok. Instead of complaining about what is not available, they must be faithful to read what they already have.

Besides this personal reading of the Bible and prayer, I also encouraged them to spend family prayer time everyday with their family members. Then, brothers prayer with the brothers, and sisters prayer with the sisters. In this way, all the saints should be living a prayer life, and the church sould be the house of prayer. 

Once, regular and daily personal and corporate prayer life is established, the saints will be shined upon by the glory of God and they will shine forth the glory of the blessed God as the gospel. By this shining, one by one, all the family members will be saved and there will be much increase in the church life here in Tripura. 

Through conversation with the saints here, it was obvious that they have very much been affected by the political and social situation that they have been facing. In fact, the Bengalis from Bangladesh have been migrating into this state and have even overtaken the local populace in many areas of life. This has been a nagging thought in the minds of the native people including the saints. Therefore, I encouraged them to pray for the salvation of all these migrants and have a view of God in viewing them as fish sent by the Lord to their land for their fishing. In fact, the Lord promised us that He will make us fishers of men. It will be difficult if not impossible to go to the land of these migrants for the gospel, but now that they have come, our responsibility should be to share the gospel of the love of God to them.

In addition, they have also been so much occupied with gaining their own land. But my burden was to help them receive God’s burden and pray the Lord’s prayer, praying for the kingdom of God rather than for our own kingdom. Our view should be according to God. Our prayer should also be according to God. There may me many things we cannot do, but God would not expect us to do what we cannot do. He will only expect us to do what we can do. So, we must be faithful to do what we can do and just do it faithfully. 

After the ministry of the word, we prayed and all the saints responded from the burden just released. Then, we all prayed together again and ended the meeting followed by lovefeast.

Later, in the evening we visited a family and preached the gospel to the unsaved family members of a brother. The Lord blessed the gospel preaching and those who have not yet believed into the Lord believed and confessed that Jesus is Lord! The truth concerning baptism was also shared to them. We then prayed for them and let them take their own time for their baptism. 

Thus, the day ended. And this was how we enjoyed the Lord’s move in Tripura.

Praise the Lord! May the Lord richly bless His move in Tripura!

Hymn: Dealing with My Heart

Yesterday night, as I listened to the message on the need to deal with my heart to gain Christ and grow in life for the building up in life, I was very much enlightened to see my specific need in each area of my inward parts with the goal of gaining Christ unto full maturity. Therefore, even as I listened to the message, I started composing a hymn out of the message outline. After the meeting ended, I ate dinner with my son and prayed with my family. Then I went out to pray and came back to continue to write the hymn. When it was completed it had fourteen stanzas. I truly enjoyed the Lord's anointing as I composed the hymn. The words just came and poetically they rhyme too. This was how I entered into the Lord's speaking, enjoyed it too, and composed a hymn for further enjoyment and learning. 

Various Aspects of the Inner Life: The Proper Heart
Composed on 28^th Nov 2023
The message in the Thanksgiving Conference and Blending Nov 2023, enlightened me to see the need for dealing with my heart for my growth in the divine life unto maturity for God’s building.

Time:3/4 G Major
Meter:8.6.8.6 with chorus.
Hymn Code:33323471
Tune #744 “In dealings with the Lord as life”
 
1.  Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     That I may grow in life.
     Yes, grow unto maturity
     For Thy building in life.
 
2.  Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     That my heart may be soft.
     Submissive and yielding to Thee
     Abide in Thee aloft.
 
3.  Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     That my heart may be pure;
     Single, to fulfill Thine one goal,
     Pursue Thee to mature.
 
4.  Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     My heart be loving Thee;
     Thirsting and yearning only Thee
     Love Thee continually.
 
5.  Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     That my heart be at peace.
     Conscience with no condemnation,
     No offense and at ease.
 
6.  Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     To take Thee as my life.
     Remove my dark human concept,
     On my pathway of life.
 
7.  Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     Free from hypocrisy.
     Deal with my natural goodness,
     Care Thy dwelling in me.
 
8.  Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     Obeying the inward sense.
     Save me from rebellion and sins
     Lead me by Thy presence.
 
9.  Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     Break my strength and greatness,
     My natural abilities
     By Thy cross and grace.
 
10.Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     Deal with my thoughts and mind,
     Setting my mind on the Spirit
     In peace, inwardly shine.
 
11.Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     Grant me submissive will,
     Fully surrender and obey
     To do only Thy will.
 
12.Deal with my heart, O Lord I pray,
     Deal with my emotion.
     Love what Thou love, hate what Thou hate,
     One with Thine expression.
 
13.Daily strengthen me Lord, I pray
     Into my inner man.
     Thus, make Thou Thy home in my heart
     Make me Thy full-grown man.
 
14.Have mercy upon me, O Lord,
     Open my eyes to see
     Thy central work in this age is
     To gain Thee, grow in Thee.

Books for Africa

In the month of May this year, a brother serving in Africa enquired about buying ministry books from us. Since then we had been fellowshipping and exchanging mails back and forth. This was indeed the Lord’s provision for us for bulk sales of the Holy Bible we have in huge stock and also a good revenue for the company to meet an urgent need. From the day the order was proposed, I did my best to coordinate with the brother who placed the order and also with all my brothers who actually carried out the purchase order. It was was a two way coordination for me. In the process, I learned a lot in praying for the Lord to lead us in every practical step we took and also in all our coordination in every minute matter. This includes fellowshipping with the publisher of the ministry books for permission, which was the most important part of the deal. Then, selecting and negotiating with the printers and shippers, customs clearance agent, bank for transaction, and other practical matters. In this way, I learned many practical lessons in business. But above all, I enjoyed the Lord’s blessing in enabling me to experience Him as my wisdom. 

The order was placed on May this year and thr books actually were delivered on 10 Nov 2023. After seven months of processing the order which includes getting permission from the government authority for export, signing an agreement with our counterpart in Africa, and coordinating with the staffs of Indian customs clearance and African customs clearance agencies, the export was finally done. After this, there was the settling of inward remittance for the invoice payment, another banking process that took over a period of two months. All these official works were worth experiencing mostly for the sake of the ministry books distribution in Africa, especially in Kenya. 

Once the export of ministry books were done and received at its destination in Africa, I had the peace to utilise the sales amount to take care of urgent official need of our company. It was a very special arrangement by the Lord to rescue me from a monthly reminder from our bank for settling of an import bill which was actually paid for already, only that it did not go through outward remittance via our bank. I had been troubled by this repeated mail, but the Lord came in and rescued me out of this. He hid two birds with one stone while meeting the need for Africa He also met my official need in India.

I worship the Lord for His way of doing things. Praise the Lord!

May the Lord bless the sowing of the seed of the ministry of the word in Africa!

Be a Man-Child

“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now has come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ, for the accuser of our brothers has been cast down, who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they loved not their soul-life even unto death.” (Revelation of John 12:10-11, RecVer)

Last month, a brother called me up and requested if I could speak in an online meeting for seekers from Karnataka. As a matter of fact, when any brother gave me.an assignment I always said amen,  trusting in the Lord’s arrangement unless otherwise it was impossible for me to meet the request. But I never got time to prepare for the meeting due to my travel schedule and other responsibilities. But a few days before the actual meeting, I took time out to specifically pray for my preparation and also for the meting. As I prepared for the ministry of the word, I realised it was the timely word for me, first, to experience the truth. I really needed this very message.

A day before the actual meeting, we had a rehearsal and in that itself I realised the attack of the enemy right away. One of the points in the message was on overcoming the enemy. I applied that right away by declaring the victory of Christ. On the 19th Nov, when I ministered live too, my translator's network went bad and he dropped out. Nevertheless, the standby translator picked up immediately and the message was delivered without any hindrance. In fact, before the meeting too, I prayed and declared the victory of the Lord. Even in the morning Lord’s Table Meeting in the church in Gurugram, we enjoyed the victory of the Lord by declaring that Jesus is Lord and Christ is Victor! The meeting was high and we all enjoyed the victory of the Lord!

Satan's main job is to accuse the brothers before our God day and night. Of course, he will not blindly do that. He will pick up the failures and mistakes of the saints and blow it up repeatedly. But we must know how to deal with him and shut up his mouth by the blood of the Lamb. Not to give ground to Satan, any known sins must be confessed and the blood of Jesus applied. 

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from every sin. If we say that we do not have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7-9, RecVer)

Once confession of sins is done, God is true to His word, the blood is Jesus cleanses us from every sin. This is a universal truth. Simply believe this fact and declare this fact! The blood of the Lamb of God is the basis of our victory! The blood of Jesus is the instrument to overcome Satan! Yes, he has been accusing us, but we can answer him by the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, that cleanses us from every sin (1 John 1:7). The precious blood is also the basis for our spiritual warfare. We must know the value of the blood in order to fight against Satan. This is the first basis for overcoming Satan.

Next, there must be the word of our testimony, the declaration by faith the facts of Jesus Christ. Jesus is Lord! Christ is Victor! Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of Lords! This is the way to put Satan to an open shame and gain the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ! This is the second basis for overcoming Satan.

Finally, we must not love our soul life even unto death. For this, there must be the denial of the self through the experience of the cross. Only the cross can deal with our natural man. Therefore, we must have this attitude of denying our soul-life daily and never living by him, much less trusting in him. The inner workings of the cross in us is to take away the things that are not from God. The attitude of the overcomer should be to give up everything for the Lord.

By these bases and attitude, all believers can be overcomers, the man-child, who can fulfill God’s purpose in representing and expressing God as revealed in Genesis 26:1.

“And she brought forth a son, a man-child, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.” (Revelation of John 12:5, RecVer)

Many saints were praying for the seekers' meeting, and a brother also particularly prayed for this meeting, in addition to my prayer. Therefore, I truly enjoyed the victory of the Lord and experienced the very message I ministered. I applied the blood of the Lamb by my own confession of my sins. I declared the victory of the Lord. And I denied myself by taking the cross. 

May all the brothers and sisters who were ministered to, be blessed with the word of the Lord. May the Lord gain all of us to be His overcomers to fulfill His heart's desire on the earth today!