Fellowship: Odia Translation

In 2014, we first met a brother from Odisha and presented the ministry to him. Later, two more brothers were brought into fellowship. Since then, they have been pursuing the ministry and l the translation work into Odia had begun. But due to various reasons not new to me, the translation work has been dragging. Then, a few more translators were brought in. Some how, after much waiting three free booklets distributed by Rhema were printed and distributed, and the remaining four titles books were translated too. But, the work needs improvement with a proper set up of qualified translators. Therefore, this trip to Sambalpur was taken to meet one of the translators and then to Khariar Road, where all the three key translators came together for an afternoon session of translation fellowship. 

Though, I was not directly involved in the translation fellowship, I was with all the brothers for all the supporting services. I believe this was a milestone in Odia translation service and a new beginning. There are millions of seeking Christians all over Odisha waiting for the healthy teaching of the ministry of the word. May the Lord gain His chosen ones to cook healthy spiritual food for all His odia speaking children.

Besides, we also had a time of gospel preaching to a relative of a brother and let her to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour and also used the Scriptures to show her the spiritual meaning of water baptism as she believed into the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Then, another time, I had a time of preaching the gospel to the neighbors of a brother who came to hear about the Lord Jesus Christ. I also gave them the opportunity to receive the Lord at their own will. 

As one seeking sister came to purchase the ministry literature, the Lord burdened me to show her and other believers present there, how to seek and know God’s will. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and prayer. The Lord has been quietly carrying His work in Odisha. 

Lord, bless Your move in Odisha!

Fellowship: Chennai Serving Ones

The visit to Chennai is mainly to fellowship with one of the serving brothers whose matter had recently been critically assessed as he got entangled in a side business that was brought to our notice. Nevertheless, a word of fellowship was given once the matter came to light a year ago. The aftermath of it was what I had gone to Chennai for. Therefore, I had a personal time of fellowship with him and clarified all the points the brothers brought to us. I had been praying for him and the matter concerning him. Deep within, the Lord confirmed to me that everything will be alright. This was the opportunity for me to learn how to handle critical situation and exercise God’s wisdom in dealing with it. At the same time, it was also a perfecting lesson and a warning for the concerned brother. I got to learn to deny my soul life and obey the Lord’s leading through the brothers' fellowship. 

A week later, the matter concerning that brother was settled, though the way was long and passed through a lot of fellowship. The enemy had been trying his best to destroy and kill the function of a full-time serving brother. First, I had to ask him to submit the list of siants who got involved in the business, which he did and was later clarified. Second, a phone call from his father-in-law on three things he misunderstood. Then, a chain of fellowship with brothers physically at Guntur, Tenkasi, Chennai, and over the phone from Madku Chhattisgarh. Then, I conveyed the points of fellowship to all the brothers concerned including the brother who called me as I need to clarify his misunderstanding, after which he thanked me and also blessed me by saying, "Thank you brother! God bless you!"

Besides, in fellowship a new arrangement in Chennai office was done for a better ambience when visitors visit the literature office. We also enjoyed a day of fellowshipping with serving ones over lunch and also visited two families, whose translation service had been affected due to health and family issues. We went to encourage them to sail on in the grace of the Lord in the Tamil translation service.

In addition, I also got to visit my ex-guardian and ex-teacher while I was studying MCA in MCC Tambaram, Chennai. In both the visitation, I shared my enjoyment of the Lord and also testified of the good deeds and blessings God has been bestowing upon me. They both prayed for me and blessed me.

Chennai O Chennai, herein I truly experienced the nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work. Yes, all for the building of the temple of God, the church, the Body of Christ as in the building of temple in Jerusalem by Solomon.

“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.” (1 Kings 7:17, RecVer)

Fellowship: New Testament Recovery Version Proofreading in Kannada

On the 28th of January we attended the leading brothers fellowship in Hubli, Karnataka to present the need for volunteers who could do the comparison reading of the translated Kannada New Testament Recovery Version. Since the number of saints are not many, the saints have tried their best to somehow get enough saints who knows both Kannada and English to do the comparison reading. After this, there will be the final stage of proofreading, afterwhich printing of the Kannada New Testament would be done.

Since two of the translators reside in a nearby city Belgaum, we deemed it best to also visit them after the fellowship on Lord’s Day. Another reason for such visit was, our main translator sister's father was critically ill and was admitted to the hospital just the day before we went to Hubli. Besides, we could also visit the Kannada translators family, as both husband and wife were in the same team of translation service for the past five years. A week later, the father of our translator went to be with the Lord due to his ill health. The Lord was sovereign in bringing us to visit them at the right time.

From Hubli, we went to Bengaluru for two days 29 and 30th January and visited ten possible venues for carying out the proofreading project in Kannada. The brothers in the church in Bengaluru coordinated with us and led us to these ten different venues. We enjoyed a sweet coordination together. I believe, the Lord will grant us the wisdom to finalize on the right venue for the proofreading project. May His will be done.

On a side note, I also got to meet up with one of my old classmates who lived just nearby a brother's house where we were given hospitality in Bengaluru. I introduced him to the brothers in the church hoping that he could also be brought into the fellowship of the Body of Christ.

After all the works were done, as our final stop, we went to visit a couple for shepherding visit. The brother came to the church life in Gurugram and I also got to attend his marriage function in Kunnur. I had been fellowshipping and praying with this brother while he was in Gurugram, and later, once in a while. At his home, we all attended the online PSRP of message on the recent Winter Training on the burden of laboring on the all-inclusive Chirst.

Thus, the visit to Hubli, Belgaum, and Bengaluru was done with our burden accomplished.

Lord, bless the church in Bengaluru and the upcoming Kannada New Testament Recovery Version Proofreading Project. 

Fellowship: Old Testament Recovery Version Translation

In has been indeed a great blessing to participate in the Lord’s move through the literature service. By His grace and blessing, I have been enjoying all my official functions and responsibilities. In no way or ever, I felt I was working or struggling to accomplish something. But in all my labor in coordination with my fellow co-working brothers, I have been just witnessing and reaping what the Lord has already done. The tasks at hand seemed to be great and difficult, but the Lord has been with us in accomplishing all of them. What seemed impossible and difficult were actually done! I declare this in faith. 

After the completion of the New Testament Recovery Version translation in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Mizo, now the Lord is leading us further to translate the Old Testament in Tamil, Telegu, and Hindi. Hopefully, Malayalam too. For this, there was a need for proper and thorough felllowship with leading brothers of the churches speaking these languages. Therefore, in fellowship and coordination with the brothers serving in the work in India, we travelled to Tenkasi, Tamilnadu on 26th January 2024 and Vizag, Andhra Pradesh on 3rd February 2024 to fellowship concerning Tamil and Telugu Old Testament Recovery Version translation respectively. 

The Lord has been with us in all our journeys, and all the while I personally also enjoyed the Lord’s presence. I did not feel any tiredness physically though the journey was hectic, for the enjoyment of God's presence overshadowed every outward matters. In fact, as I set out for this journey which would last until the 12th of February, the Lord's words to me was, "Enjoy God!" True to His words, I have been enjoying God all along. 

In both the places of fellowship, we released the burden concerning the need for Old Testament Recovery Version in Tamil and Telugu, the need to spiritually support this project with prayers and financial offerings, the need to consider generously to support the translators, and also presented the detail that entails Hebrew learning from a secular university in Jerusalem, Israel. 

After releasing the burden, we also gave time for the brothers to respond and clarify any doubt. In all the fellowship, the Lord and the brothers were one with the burden and it has been confirmed that the matter is of the Lord. Therefore, the Lord will successfully complete the project within the stipulated time of two years for learning Hebrews and six years for translation, altogether eight years. If the Lord tarries His second coming, and if we start this project by this year 2024, it will be accomplished only by 2032. With the Lord, time is not the issue. What He planed and purposed, He will accomplish it in His way and at His time.

I pray that the Lord will preserve all of us coordinating in this project in the overseeing and the translation with the churches' support to see and go through the practical process until printing and promotion of the Holy Bible Recovery Version in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. We pray that Malayalam may also be added too in time. May the will of the Lord be done.

Lord, bless the Old Testament Recovery Version translation project in India!

Amidst Saffronisation

India is a religious country. As one born in India, I had also been influenced by religion in the past. The family, social, and political environment where one grew up with, shaped that person. Since the background of almost all people are religious, no wonder, the people of the country are religious too. 

As one born of parent from multiple religions background, in my case,  Hinduism, Animism, and Christianity, I had experienced something of all, especially the festivals and ways of worshipping God. During my childhood when I did not know God personally, religions were all of fun, frolic, friendship, and festival. We just followed blindly what were traditionally followed, mostly in obedience to our parent and elders in the society. So the natural outcome was being religious until I had my personal encounter with the true and living God, Jesus Christ, my Saviour. If not for this encounter with God, I would still linger in multiple religions of my background. Thank God, He saved me!

This year has been favourable to one section of the country, the majoritarian religion, with the construction and inauguration of their long dreamed religious sunctum. As like other religions, they also got what they have longed for. The democracy in India has granted freedom of worship to all religions. It's all one's choice. Besides, articles 25 to 28 of the Indian Constitution provide that every Indian has the right to freedom of religion.

The result of this good news for the majoritarian has been very obvious. As I traveled across Central and North India by train and by road, I saw saffron mini triangular flags hoisted on streets, houses, and even in public places. Even the hotel where I lodged was adorned with saffrons in front and on the rooftop. 

Religion is a personal choice and a fundament right. No one can forcefully impose any religion upon any one, he can preach and propagate according to his rights, but the choice is personal. I chose mine and others chose theirs. And we all live together as Indians. Amidst saffronisation, one has the right to practice his own choice of faith. And that's what I have been doing. 

My daily prayers were done during my stay in a hotel was amidst saffron flags. The rooftop was adorned with saffron, and in the midst of it, I was walking and praying. Outward environment did not matter to me, for prayer is an inward matter, fellowshiping with God. Prayer can be prayed at any time, any place, and any where. 

I pray for my countrymen as taught by the word of God.

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to be borne in its own times. (1 Timothy 2:1-6, RecVer)

Therefore, I pray for all men whoever the Lord burdened me to pray for. I pray for people I am burdened to pray for. My prayer list entails those from Christianity, Hinduism, Muslim, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and even Atheism. God loves them all.

For there is one God and one Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to be borne in its own times. (1 Timothy 2:6, RecVer)

So, amidst saffronisation, I pray, profess, practice, and propagate my faith. God gave me these rights and my country also gave me these rights as enshrined in the Constituion of India, article 25. Thank God, my country is a democratic country. In addition to democracy, I also practice theocracy, learning to be ruled by God, especially, in my conscience.

Because of this I also exercise myself to always have a conscience without offense toward God and men. (Acts 24:16, RecVer)

As a part of my right to profess and practice, I quote the Holy Scriptures here below and look to God for His grace to practice them as well, wholeheartedly.

“1. Let every person be subject to the authorities over him, for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are ordained by God. 

2. So then he who resists the authority opposes God’s ordination, and those who oppose will receive judgment to themselves. 

3. For the rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you want to have no fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from him; 

4. For he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, fear; he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who practices evil. 

5. Therefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. 

6. For because of this you also pay taxes; for they are God’s officers, attending constantly to this very thing. 

7. Render to all the things due: tax to whom tax is due, custom to whom custom is due, fear to whom fear is due, honor to whom honor is due. 

8. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves the other has fulfilled the law. 

9. For, “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

10. Love does not work evil to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:1-10, RecVer)

Amidst saffronisation, in obedience to the word of God, I love my country India, and I also love my countrymen, my neighbors, Indians. I do my best to subject to the rulers of this country as long as they do not go against God’s words, and I pay my taxes too. Much more, I pray for India and I also pray for Indians.

God bless India! God save Indians!

Enjoying God's Creation!

He has made everything beautiful in its own time; also He has put eternity in their heart, yet so that man does not find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good in their lifetime; Moreover, that every man should eat and drink and taste enjoyment in all his labor; it is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13, RecVer)

God wants man to enjoy Him. Everything God has made beautiful for man to enjoy His creation and rejoice in Him. Life is to enjoy God's blessing!

Today morning, I was in a train on my way back from a three weeks long ministry literature journey to Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh when the joy of the Lord with His presence filled me as I was also enjoying my time with the Lord in a morning revival time. I was also witnessing the beautiful creation of God as the train passsed through central part of North India in Madhya Pradesh amidst rockly mountains, rough terrains, green valleys, plain green fields, ponds, streams, rivers, bridges and tunnels, I was awestruck and overwhelmed with the greatness of God. He has created everything beautiful for man. Only enlightened eyes can see these. I am glad, I am one such. I see God is all these beautiful creation.

For the invisible things of Him, both His eternal power and divine characteristics, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being perceived by the things made, so that they would be without excuse; (Romans 1:20, RecVer)

As I enjoyed God through all His creation, I could relate my experience with the hymn "How Great Thou Art."

O Lord my God, When I, in awesome wonder, 

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made; 

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, 

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Chorus:

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 

How great Thou art, How great Thou art! 

When through the woods and forest glades I wander, 

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Composed by Stuart K. Hine, a Bristish Methodist missionary. He wrote the hymn on a mission trip in Ukraine in 1931 when he heard the Russian translation of a German song inspired by Carl Boberg's poem "O Store Gud" (O Great God).

What more can I say at the sight of God’s marvelous wisdom in creation except to praise Him, thank Him, and worship Him!

Having witnessed God's beautiful creation, I appreciated the Creator much more than ever before and the Firstborn of all creation, Jesus Christ!

Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation, Because in Him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or lordships or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and unto Him. And He is before all things, and all things cohere in Him; And He is the Head of the Body, the church; He is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that He Himself might have the first place in all things; (Colossians 1:15-18, RecVer)

Even as I enjoyed God's beautiful creation, deep within me there is a sense of honor and glory to Jesus Christ and I gave Him the preeminence. The creation leads to the Creator and the creation is for man to know who the Creator is. Yes, God is invisible, but He is made visible through His creation. No wonder, only the fool and blind will say there is no God.

The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt; they commit abominable deeds; There is none who does good. (Psalms 14:1, RecVer)

The conclusion of the matter can be expressed in a hymn composed by Witness Lee on a similar tune with that of Stuart K. Hine. All my being sings in praise to God!

Hymn #17

My Father God, when on Thy vast creation.

The wonders of the heav'n and earth, I gaze.

Things great and small, beyond enumeration,

Which manifest Thy pow'r in untold ways;

Then all my being sings in praise to Thee,

How marvelous! How great Thou art!

And this I'll sing through all eternity,

How marvelous! How great Thou art!

2

As I enjoy the grace of Thy salvation

And contemplate how Thou Thy Son hast sent,

Who died that we might be Thy new creation,

Thy life expressing to the full extent;

3

When in the church, in blest participation,

I see how millions Thine own life possess,

How they are built to form Thy habitation,

Containing Thee, Thy fulness to express;

4

As I expect the coming age of fulness

And hope to share the new Jerusalem,

With all the heavens and the earth in newness

And all Thou art expressed in all of them;

Prayers for All

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God. (1 Timothy 2:1-3, RecVer)

In line with the word of God I used to pray for "kings" and those in high position. In fact, I used to pray daily for famous people in India and also in the world. The people that I prayed for includes Presidents and Prime Ministers of different countries, the prominent ones in relation to God’s move on the earth. The list also includes various sportsmen, entrepreneurs, business men, movie stars, politicians, religious leaders, etc. When prayer burdens were more with personal, family, service, and church needs, I somehow directed my prayers more on these immediate needs. Though I have been reading about these famous people in the world from the news, I hardly prayed for them any longer.

Last week, a news report reminded me again of my need to pray for some of these ones in a more specific way. Therefore, I picked up the burden to pray again for some of these ones, especially those who are undergoing hardtimes. I feel that this is the best time for them to seek for the true and living God and somehow be saved. Should the Lord will so, I am even ready to meet them face to face or contact them to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. As much as I need the Lord, I believe, they so need the Lord even more. 

I have also been following the current political events in India. So, I pray earnestly for the rulers of this nation, both the ones in power and those in the opposition. God’s desire is that all men be saved, first of all. I therefore took this burden upon myself and pray for the salvation of all men especially those whom the Lord specifically burdened me for.

Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4, RecVer)

Now, my prayer burdens list has become much longer. I need more time for prayer. In fact, these burdens helped me redeem my time and encouraged me to pray more. On the one hand, I pray for them, yet on the other hand, I am helped to pray more and more. Yes, the prayers are for others, but I am the first beneficiary. Because I pray. Whether the Lord will answer my prayers or not, it's all upto Him. But the fact that I am praying is already the answer to my prayers.

One new lesson I learned is, instead of opining or discussing about the rulers of the nation, my prayer for them will benefit them, the nation and me. By political discussion, I could achieve nothing for the country. The best that I can do for the nation and the world is pray. Yes, pray for the nation and the world leaders, especially for their salvation and for God’s will to accomplish on the earth even through these ones like the way God used the king of Persia.

Now in the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia, so that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus the king of Persia; and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in writing, saying, (Ezra 1:1, RecVer)

Lord, I petition, pray, and intercede on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position. Let Your will be done in India and in the world!