Shepherding Visit in Hyderabad

The Lord has been very faithful in leading me to places I should go and people I should meet, when and with whom. Last week as I was in the full-timers training in Hyderabad, the Lord made arrangement for me to meet three families in the city. Though I had no plan as such, the Lord made the arrangements!

The first family was a classmate of mine twenty years ago while I was studying my Master's degree in Computer Science in Chennai. His family had move to Hyderabad as he has been working in the city. His wife a medical doctor working in a hospital in the city too. As we visited him and his family, I fellowshipping on the matter of our need to be dealt with by the Lord through the experience of the cross of Jesus Christ and emphasized the need for laboring on the all-inclusive Christ. Then, my two fellow brothers added on the same points with more details. 

In order to encourage the couple for the normal Christian living, I shared about the need to function as priests of the New Testament, our divine birthright. As a priest, one must live in the presence of God, bring God to people, and bring people to God. This can and must be done by all Christians wherever the Lord has placed us. In our work places, in our neighborhood, and wherever. Besides, we all prayed for the family and encouraged them to be in fellowship with the church in Hyderabad. God also sovereignly brought a couple from the church in Hong Kong to live near his apartment so that they can be in fellowship. I do pray and believe that the Lord will receive this family for the church life.

The second family was the family of a sister who is also an Indian army officer. I knew her since the time she was single and was serving in Guwahati. She had been enjoying the church life there and even attended a month's training in Gurugram. She is also one of the sisters to whom I used to send prayer request whenever I travel for the ministry literature journey. As she received my message last week, she immediately enquired if I was in Hyderabad and that she would like to attend "my meeting," if any, or meet for fellowship. In fact, when I received the message I was already on the way to meet a brother's family who lives a few miles away from her. The Lord was sovereign in this arrangement; the date, the place, and the timing were all just perfect!

As I and a brother visited her family, on her request for the word of God, I fellowshipped with her and her husband on God's eternal plan. As we read Bible verses like Genesis 1:26; 2:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, and others, I expounded these verse and delved deep into the ruth concerning  the spirit, soul, and body of man and how God as the Spirit comes into regenerate man once anyone believes into the Lord Jesus Christ, the burden shifted to her husband who has not yet been baptised. Then, I helped him to understand the spiritual significances of baptism by showing all the important verses in the New Testament concerning baptism. I also encouraged the family to open their home for the saints to visit for home meetings and introduced them to the brothers in the church in Hyderabad. I do pray and believe that the Lord will receive this family for the church life.

The third family was a brother known to me since twenty years. But he has been distracted very much by the things in Christianity and could not stay faithful to practice of the proper church life. Nevertheless, I have been in touch with him and visited him whenever I can. Though I did not have any thought of inviting for any church meeting as such, after visiting him, he called me to get the phone humber of one of the brothers in the church in Hyderabad. Later he texted me to say that he had called the brother and that he would join the meeting with the church on the Lord’s Day. I do pray and believe that the Lord will receive this family for the church life.

Being Crucified

“I protest by the boasting in you, brothers, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31 RecVer 

As one born of the flesh, we are flesh indeed. Though, as believers, we are born of God in our spirit, as long as we live in the flesh, the sinful nature is still in the flesh. Nullifying this fact just because one was born of God would be a gross ignorance. When the flesh is stirred up, one will be in an utter confusion as to who he really is, of the flesh or of the spirit. Since we still live in the world and we are on the process of maturing, we still switched between the flesh and the spirit often. Therefore, the sooner one realises his being still in the flesh, the better. This will lead to conviction of sins and even of being in sin and desperately cry out to the Lord for mercy.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6, RecVer)

The Lord sovereignly still uses the flesh to expose who we really are. This must humble us to the uttermost despite the many years since we were born of the Spirit in our spirit and despite the many spiritual experiences and enjoyment. With this realisation, we must live in fear and trembling before God, not daring to lift up our ugly heads in anyway. 

Thank the Lord for His wisdom is allowing the flesh to still exist to tame us. Even more so, to remind us of who we really are in the flesh. With our conscience functioning and convicting whenever and wherever we have gone wrong, we immediately confess our sins and apply the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for His forgiveness and cleansing.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, RecVer)

Then, despite being born of the flesh, we are also born of the Spirit, children of God, to fulfill His purpose on the earth. Herein lies the need to be in the spirit all the time she put the flesh to death. The function of the cross of Jesus Christ is to put to death the flesh, the old and natural man. Therefore, the Lord commanded, “And He called the crowd to Him with His disciples and said to them, If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his soul-life shall lose it; but whoever will lose his soul-life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it.” (Mark 8:34-35, RecVer)

For this very reason, the Lord sovereignly allows many things to happen in our Christian life and church life. Tracing our experiences, it all began in the outer court at the bronze altar, then the silver socket in the Holy place, and finally at the golden altar in the Holy of Holy. Similarly, the two pillars of the temple stands as a testimony of our being His testimony. 

“And he formed the two bronze pillars; eighteen cubits was the height of each pillar, and a line of twelve cubits encompassed each pillar. And he made two capitals of molten bronze to set upon the tops of the pillars; the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the second capital was five cubits. There were nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals that were at the top of the pillars, seven for the one capital, and seven for the second capital. So he made the pillars; and there were two rows of pomegranates around the one network, to cover the capitals that were at the top of the pillars. And he did the same for the second capital.” (1 Kings 7:15-18, RecVer)

To be the Lord’s testimony, our natural man must be judged and condemned daily as molten bronze implying practically to be judged and die daily as the reality of bearing the cross and being crucified. For this, the Lord allows the nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work in our Christian life and church life. All the seemingly difficulties and troubles caused by the saints or our family members, all works together for good to accomplish His purpose to crucify us day by day. No matter how we wish that our Christian life and church life should be "wonderful and perfect," the only way it can be wonderful and perfect is by being crucified. If one sees this vision, he will humble himself and worship the ways of God for all the troubles! Difficulties and problems are food for us in the proper spiritual sense. Otherwise, it will only bog us down, filled with complaining and murmuring. These are the Amaleks that God wants to deal with in relation to our experiences of Him and His cross. “For he said, For there is a hand against the throne of Jah! Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” (Exodus 17:16, RecVer)

These are the spiritual lessons the Lord has been teaching me these days. I am glad I have been graced to learn these lesson of the cross. In our recent training for the full-time serving ones, the Lord just confirmed this matter of being crucified, through a brother's mature and timely fellowship. The Lord wants to come back. But He can do so only if His bride is ready. So, the urgency for us to experience His cross daily. For only in this way, can we be perfected, grow up and be builded up to be His beautiful bride! Thank the Lord for His grace and mercy still prevailing upon us, especially me! 

Being Read

“And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders a Lamb standing as having just been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” Revelation of John 5:6 RecVer 

Every coworker fellowship of the Lord’s move in India that I have attended had always been a time of spiritual examination. The seven Spirits of God with it's seven eyes searched deep within me, enlightening me to see my inward situation as far as my participation in the propagation work was concerned. I could see myself where I had been, all my short comings, especially. The light of the Lord just shone on me through the brothers' fellowship. Though such meeting was not for the ministry of the word for the supply of life, yet I received much light and life supply. Though much of the fellowship was not directly related to me nor my service nor for my locality, yet every point of fellowship seemed as though everything was directed to me. The shining of the Lord’s light was so strong through the work fellowship that I could only silently repent before the Lord for my failures and short comings. Through the brothers' fellowship I had been taught, time and again. Only that I may learn and be perfected through this fellowship. 

When the brothers presented the situation of the churches in their states and regions with statistics, I could see the real situation of the locality I have been in. Though my locality was not presented, in my mind I could see the real situation of the local church. I stood condemned for not being able to work out anything fruitful as far as the increase in number was concerned. I lamented the weak spiritual situation of myself, my family, and also of the saints. Inwardly, I can't help but groan for our situation. I could only pray for the Lord’s forgiveness for all my sins and failures, sought for the Lord’s grace and mercy, and trusted the Lord for His blessing.

The seven eyes of the Spirit had been reading me and letting me known my real situation. I believe, through this reading, the Spirit also has been infusing Himself to intensify me for His move for the increase of Chirst in the church. O what a blessed time of reviewing my spiritual condition before the Lord! It was indeed a tine if regular "medical check-up" at God’s examination table. Yes, it was indeed of time for a new beginning again. O Lord Jesus!

Thank the Lord that He loves me. Therefore, the seven Spirit of the Lord has been reading me; shining, exposing, searching, and infusing. 

Lord, continue Your shining and searching. Sanctify me Lord! Read me and lead me. Amen.

Being a Channel Only

Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous grace,

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every hour in every place.

Hymns 268, chorus 

The chorus of hymns 268 has been my experience as a Christian. Since I got saved, the Lord has been showing mercy on me to be a channel to a good number of people. In fact, my prayers the moment I got saved were for the salvation of my whole household. The Lord answered those prayers in due time. All my immediate family members have all been saved and still I am praying for the salavation of all my distant relatives too. Even by prayers, I realised that I could be a channel for the Lord's divine life to flow through.

As far as the gospel is concerned, I have also been praying for many of my classmates and teachers in my college and university, many prominent personalities the Lord burdened me for prayers, and uncountable number of gospel friends. I believe, the Lord, in due time, will flow His life to them. Perhaps, through me or any other channel. My burden is for their salvation. It's upto the Lord whose channel He will use.

Besides, the Lord also has been gracing me the experience of being a channel to supply the needs of many needy saints. Apart from the life supply, financial supply too also passes through me. I make it clear here. The source of the finance has never been mine. It has always been from the Lord through some saints. A huge amount of offering has been transferred through me to many saints for the past many years. As long as the Lord pleases to use me in this way, I am glad to be channel only. The reason for mentioning this point is stated below.

Since the Lord used me as a channel to supply the financial needs of many needy saints, some of these ones who received the financial offering often thought that I was the one who offered to them. But I am not. So when they were in urgent need for financial help, they took the freedom to mention to me their financial needs boldly which I really did not like it.  How I wish to hide myself even from being a channel. But there is no way, for all the offerings were transfered from my bank account to theirs. And that's the only way I could offer.

In the past few weeks and months, I have been contacted by some of these dear siants making me known again and again of their financial needs. I felt very uneasy and fearful deep within. For I know I am not the source. I supply only when I was supplied to supply. I have been serving as a channel only to route the financial offerings to many needy saints in India. And I will continue to do so as long as the Lord pleases to use me as a channel only. But the source of the money has never been mine. It was the Lord’s provision through some saints. So when being contacted foe financial help, I just kept quite and prayed for them that the Lord would meet their needs and that they would look to the Lord only to meet their needs. In fact, in a couple of cases, I let them know that they should look to the Lord only and used to quote a Bible verse for them to live by.

Philippians 4:19 RecVer 

“And my God will fill your every need according to His riches, in glory, in Christ Jesus.”

Being Recovered

Luke 15:24 RecVer “Because this son of mine was dead and lives again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to be merry.”

In the church here in Gurugram, many have come and many have left. Many who left were due to transfer in their jobs to other cities. Many who stopped coming have their own reasons, most of them were not able to leave the denomination they were initially in. Perhaps, it was due to lack in our shepherding that they were not able to see clearly the vision of Christ and the church. This is a lesson for me definitely.

Nevertheless, the Lord is merciful. One of the brothers whom we first met eighteen years ago finally came into the church life! He himself gave a testimony on the 31st December night that he had been observing us and many times thought that we probably were a cult group as opined by many denominations pastors. He now and then appeared and disappeared. He had been to many other Christian groups and yet could not stay in any one as he found many unscriptural teachings and practices. After so many years of wandering, searching, and researching the teachings and practices in the church life, he finally made his own decision. He gave up all his wandering and came into the church life fully. Though his family members are yet to join him, they did not opposed him any longer as was in the past. I used to visit this brother and his family, and every time I did so, I used to share something from the Bible and pray. In fact, in my last visit, I was so bold to tell the brother in front of all his family members, "Brother, stop wandering around in the wilderness. You know where the truth is. Come for meeting and blending. You are already a member of the Body of Christ!" After that, the Lord used a situation and took two of our brothers to visit his family unplanned. Since then, the brother began to come regularly for the meeting.

Another brother who was baptised and had been enjoying the church life many years ago left for reasons unknown. He even completely cut himself off from meeting with any saint. I tried to invite or visit him a couple of times but he willing denied. I had no way to visit him nor talk to him. But as the church, we have been praying for his full recovery. 

Beginning this year, on 1st Jan, he turned up to the meeting with his family, fully vibrant. He himself testifed that he decided to come back fully to enjoy the church life together with all the saints. It was a great joy for all of us to see a brother being recovered!

In both cases, the feeling I personally had was as described by the father of the prodigal son in Luke 15:32 RecVer “But we had to be merry and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, and he was lost and has been found.”

Praise the Lord for the recovery of our brothers! May the Lord grace them to enjoy Him more and more each day and gain Him fully for His testimony!

Being Blessed by Being Blended and Builded in and for the Body

On the last day of the last month, also the last day and the last Lord’s Day of the last year, we had a combined Lord’s Day meeting at Okhla in New Delhi. The saints from NCR and Mathura combined together for the meeting. It was a glorious blending meeting indeed! After many many years of being in North India, now I am beginning to see the fruit of the Lord’s serving ones' labor. Many many new and young believers have been raised up in the churches, and that too, majority were Hindi speaking saints. All the testimonies were shared in Hindi and we all enjoyed the blessing the Lord has bestowed upon us in North India, and that too, in the capital city! It was a wonderful time of blending!

Though my family was late to the meeting as the time announced to us was 30 minutes later than the actual meeting time and that too at the last minute, a new one had to be picked up. Without any murmuring and complaint, I took all as the Lord’s arrangement and shallowed every other thoughts. This too was a lesson in blending to accept wrong timing and and meet impromptu need for the sake of blending. The Lord is over all. That's how He blended us all in oneness.

A week earlier, we made use of the day, 25 December, to invite our new ones for a time of fellowship and meeting. From morning till night, different groups of new ones came. With every group we had a time of gospel preaching for unbelievers and a time of fellowship for believers. By all means, we have done all that we could to shepherd the believers and preach the gospel to the unbelievers. The sisters were helping out in cooking and the brothers were busy taking care of the saints and new ones. In this way, the Lord graced us with one whole day of blending. 

On the last day of this year 31 December night, as the church we gathered together and had a time of blending meeting where the saints gave testimony of what that Lord has done in their lives in the last year. As we recounted all that the Lord has done, we were amazed at the many things accomplished by the Lord in the saints. "Great is Thy faithfulness O Lord my Father!" 

Besides, we also released the burden the Lord gave us for this new year based in the fellowship we brothers had on 25 December morning, a special fellowship of prayer and planning for the new year. The Lord has made the goal for the increase of church in numbers clear to us. He also has made known the way to achieve this goal. Now, our responsibility is to first of all pray. Then, preach the gospel regularly and shepherd the new ones. 

On the 1st of January this new year 2024, we also gather together the saints and fellowshipped on the need for the Triune God to dispense Himself into our tripartite being day by day until we are all filled with Himself and be the same as He is in life and nature but not in the Godhead. One key Bible verse we pray-read was 1 John 3:2 RecVer “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been manifested what we will be. We know that if He is manifested, we will be like Him because we will see Him even as He is.”

After the meeting, a good number of saints stayed back for fellowship. We made a bonfire in the backyard of the meeting hall. Around the fire we sat fellowshipping the entire afternoon till evening. It was my first time to sit together with the saints for so long. But this time, I deemed it important and stayed with the saints even just to spend time with them. 

All these were the many ways the Lord blended us together for the building up among us. This is the blessing we foretasted for this new year. 

Praise the Lord! We were being blessed by being blended and builded in and for the Body.

Being Nothing

Oh! the joy of having nothing,

Being nothing, seeing nothing

But a living Christ in glory

And being careful for nothing.

Oh! the joy of having nothing,

Being nothing, seeing nothing

But a living Christ in glory

And His interest here on earth!

This hymn by Br. J N Darby I have sung it many times but I never could really relate to it as I still have many things. Sometimes I wonder if anyone could really mean the words of this song. But of late, I began to realize what it means to really be nothing. And I have been graced to begin to understand this hymn and also I am beginning to experience the fact of being nothing.

Actually, we are nothing from the very beginning, more practically so, from birth. As Job declared rightly in Job 1:21 RecVer, And he said, Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. Jehovah gives and Jehovah takes away; Blessed be the name of Jehovah. 

The only question is whether we realize we are nothing indeed or not.

Many, including me, have regarded myself as somebody when I am actually nobody and nothing. But it took the grace of the Lord to open my eyes to see who I really am, that I am nothing. Time and again, the Lord uses different people at different times to let me know that I am nothing. It has been a great discovery recently to realize that I am nothing. When I came to this realization I felt a great relief. In fact, this is a salvation too. Because, in truly being nothing we can easily humble ourself and have no opinion or feeling about anything whatsoever, especially in the Lord’s work. 

The main problem with me has been that I think I know something and that I also think I have some experiences of serving the Lord or working things out. This consciousness of "being somebody or something" has been a spiritual disease that gave me all kinds of feelings and opinions about how things ought to be done by me or others in the Lord’s work. Actually, the Lord’s work is the Lord’s, and I should not in any way put my natural hands into it for whatever reason nor give my opinion or feeling into it. What I can do is, I can only destroy, not build, with what I am and what I have. May the Lord preserve me from being a "destroyer" of His work by assuming to be somebody or presuming to know something.

Thank the Lord, in the recent past, the Lord has shown mercy on me and now I am able to realise I am nothing, and I mean it, and that I can do nothing, and that I am nobody for anything. All my natural strength has been drained to come to realise this special truth that I am indeed nothing. If there be any good coming out of my life or my service, it is purely out of the Lord’s mercy and blessing. I dare not count any positive thing I have been experiencing as of anything to do with me. All good things are from the Lord. And if by any chance, something good passes through me, they are altogether because of the Lord’s mercy and grace. For I am nothing. 

How the Lord views me is upto to the Lord, and how others view me is all up to them. But my view about myself is, I am nothing and nobody. As such, I can do nothing on my own. Now, I have been experiencing the joy of being nothing. That said, Christ is my everything!