Ministry of the Word to Kurnool

In the last ministry literature distribution trip to AP and T, it became clear that there is a need to visit city by city, town by town, even village by village, and meet Christian leaders and seekers for the introduction of the ministry literature, especially the Recovery Version Bible in Telugu and English. It was then that another trip was planned to the unfathomed region, Rayalaseema. This time round, right after the Serving Ones Training in Hyderabad, we embarked on another ministry journey to a few select cities and towns of Rayalaseema. 

Our first destination was Kurnool. A brother who is also one of the serving ones in the literature service gave us hospitality. A meeting with Christian leaders were planned for two days, in addition to visiting some select Christian leaders personally at their homes. In all the meetings, the Lord richly blessed the ministry literature introduction as the local church brothers also coordinated with us. To my surprise, all of these ones were hearing about the Recovery Version of the Bible for the first time. This indeed made the visit even more worthwhile. 

One afternoon, there was a meeting with groups of Christian leaders where we were given the opportunity to introduce the ministry literature which was also video recorded. Then, a time of fellowship with two medical doctor brothers in the hospital owned by one of them. The Lord burdened me to minister the word on receiving the word of God by breathing in the Scriptures that is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). And all this, for the building up of the Body of Christ in the one unique ministry by faithfully carrying out our portion, our ministry, in the one ministry. I then prayed for the two doctor brothers and gifted the owner of the hospital my used outline of the recent training for his study of the truth as he missed the training.

On a Tuesday prayer meeting night, on the request of the brothers, I fellowshipped with the saints on loving the Lord as the main motivating factor for the practice of the God-ordained way. The saints were so supplied with the fellowship. Even, I myself was richly supplied. Praise the Lord for His timely speaking!

We also met a medical doctor brother who takes care of one of the biggest Christian groups in the city. To him too, the Recovery Version was introduced. Though new to him, he appreciated the content in it and purchased a copy for himself immediately and also paid extra amount as an offering.

In the request of the brothers, I also visited and fellowshipped with three responsible brothers' families of the church in Kurnool. One of the brothers' daughter was to get married two days later, for which I prayed for the family. Another brother and his wife requested me to share my testimony of salvation and how the Lord ushered me to the church life, which I did. And yet another brother requested a special fellowship for him and his wife, along with a newly married brother, so I fellowshipped about the need to love the Lord Jesus Christ and by His love only can spouses love one another, and exercising to be one with the Lord and be one with one another. I emphasized that this is the secrete to receiving the Lord’s blessing in a family life.

Thus, having enjoyed the Lord’s blessing in Kurnool, we moved forward to the next city Badvel.

Lord, bless Your testimony in Kurnool!

Snippets from Fellowship 7-9 May 2024

In fellowship with a senior brother, new light and revelation were bestowed upon me. Though much of the fellowship were absorbed inwardly and rather subjective, some of them can be articulated for future reference or perhaps, to serve as reminder. Herein I record them as snippets, a gleaning from the fellowship of iur spiritual farm.

As a minister of God’s word, we must always keep the word fresh in our being. Be careful to store the word of God. This requires a person to be one who is dwelling and abiding in the word of God. The word must operate in us; the more the word operates, the more the word shines. The anointing Spirit makes the word fresh and shining. Whatever we have received through teaching or revelation must be kept fresh. Then, the saints will receive the life supply. The Lord's teaching does give knowledge but they are outward instruments to convey the inward revelation.

The Lord need brothers who can speak the word of God and minister God as light and revelation. 

The God of glory appeared to Abraham. It pleased the Father to reveal the Son in us and announce the gospel in us. When we receive more and more revelation concerning Christ, we receive light. 

Abraham left his Father because he saw the revelation and obeyed. Revelation then produces faith. This should be a daily event. 

Do not underestimate the simple things.

How do you gain the revelations?

It all begin by seeing the revelation. God use time. Abraham’s experiences in time frames. 73+20+17+17 years, a toral of127 years.

Exercise your spirit even to the point that it becomes a habit.

The Holy Spirit always guide us. The Spirit reminds you of what you what He has revealed.

We need the Holy Word opened to us.

We need light in our understanding.

Where death operates, light operates. 

Gain the storehouse of nourishing and enduring word. Gain this unique possession. The most important thing is to gain the unique possession, no matter what we do. Gather the unique possession. Do not look for the outward thing.

On Persecution

If you are reproached in the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. For let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler into others’ affairs; But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name. (1 Peter 4:14-16, RecVer)

To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, If perhaps I may attain to the out-resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11, RecVer)

The Lord’s recovery is watered by the blood of martyrs. Where death operates, life operates. Even Hudson Taylor's coworkers where martyred in China. In 1910, many prayers have been offered by the saints for the persecuted Christians. Br. Watchman Nee was raised up during this period. The first generation coworkers, except for few, all died in the prison. 

Do not compromise. Be faithful unto death. Persecution is not strange. Be properly ambitious before the Lord. We do not know how long we can freely preach the full gospel. Where persecution is the highest, there the Christian population is also the highest. Where persecution is, resurrected will be.

Build up a local church and send people out.

Love the Lord Jesus and the word of God. 

If people love the word of God, half the work is done. The word will operate in them. A regenerated man has the capacity and taste of the word of God. Blend the saints into one without any preference. Only the one who is bendable can blend others. 

Jealousy and selfish ambition go together. Deny the self, forsake the soul life, and agree with the Lord. Jealousy has to be killed. Otherwise, the church cannot be built.

Our learning has to be completed. Appreciate your brother and learn from him. We need one another. Learn the lesson of knowing who you are not. Bear the cross. This will liberate us. Accept the brothers' portion and that will make you complete. 

Generalist

To be able to do a little bit of everything. That doesn't mean we should not be specific. We need to have many learnings and be balanced. If we only are specific, we don't know there are many necessary lessons to build up the Body of Christ. 

For example, an evangelist must know how to shepherd, teach, and build up the Body of Christ, in addition to evangelism. The more we learn different aspects, the more we know when and how much to emphasize. To be an adequate apostles, he must be a generalist. 

On Ephesians 4:11

Not everyone is an apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher, but everyone must be able to function as any gifted ones.

Learn to be a generalist. Teaching and shepherding are the most important gift.

To be good shepherd and teacher is to pray for. Be a generalist. Humble yourself. Appreciate your brothers' function. Be balanced. 

"Watchman Nee is the most balanced person," said Witness Lee.

Even if the increase comes, you should never feel that the increase was because of you. Don't exalt anyone aspect. 

Or he who exhorts, in that exhortation; he who gives, in simplicity; he who leads, in diligence; he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness. (Romans 12:8, RecVer)

A gift of who can lead. Study 2 Samuel 23, its an example of "he who leads."

Everything we do has to be for the building up.

What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Corinthians 14:26, RecVer)

Your gift must be for the building up, never for tearing down. The safest thing to be is to be a generalist. Do not be so sure of what you think you know.

To be balanced is to be coordinated. Being the oldest may give you the temptation to usurpt the headship of Christ. Being the senior most or the oldest does not make one the head of the church. Only Christ is the Head. There cannot be a "pope" among us. No pontification. Be a slave. The Lord Jesus did nothing apart from the Father. 

"Down with all the popes", write a hymn.

If your hand or leg stumble you, cut it off.

Blend the saints into one. All the lumps and independent items in you be cut off. Be bendable. 

Wherever you serve, does it perfect oneness or damage oneness. It is possible to damage the Body of Christ with good intention. Your natural man must be dealt with, even your good intention. 

You must be blind in the sense that all the saints should be beautiful. You must have many many learnings. As leading one, a big danger is, you like certain kind of brother. Don't choose. Work with whoever the Lord places you with. If you choose, you will suffer. Sometimes, the one you choose may become the biggest opposer. Learn not to choose. 

Time is the best test. Time will manifest who is who. 

Unless you are blind, you cannot discern anything. Learn to look to the Lord. In resurrection, we will have some amount of discernment, by His mercy. We need discernment. Be death to your natural discernment. This is needed to blend the saints together. 

Bring others into function. Love all the brothers. Use all the brothers. Be balanced between discernment and using everyone. 

Do not be narrow hearted, either by selfishness or narrowness and lack of learning. If your learning is enlarged, your heart will be enlarged. 

Sevenfold oil needs sevenfold shining. The lampstands needs seven times more oil.

Hyderabad Visit Again

Again in Hyderabad, I enjoyed a week stay after a longhaul at Bengaluru Airport due to flight delays and cancellations. The visit this time to Hyderabad hit a turbulence. Due to sleepless nights, I could barely be attentive on the first day of the fellowship. However, after a good night sleep, I enjoyed the three days fellowship with a brother. During this fellowship, the Lord worked on me and  certain veils were lifted, which I could only experience and not narrate.

Three days of Serving Ones Training (SOT) followed suit. Message after message, I was richly supplied again on my need to be a vessel unto honor by the empowering grace of God in the one ministry unto the building up of the Body of Christ. I was richly nourished and cherished. The Lord blessed the ministry of the word. And on the last day, I could also share the crucial points of the Lord’s speaking as my portion to the saints as the concluding words along with few other brothers. Inwardly and outwardly, I could sense the Lord’s hand following His words. The depth of the Lord’s work within me during these few days of fellowship was unfathomable. I may recall these fews days and may rightly term it as as the Lord’s intensified training. 

During the training too, I had a time of prayer and fellowship with a brother, a mutual shepherding, in addition to meeting some saints that was truly needed; three of them were just married, one about to get married, and another two with marital issues. To a brother, I sent a message of Bible verses warning him about divorce which the Lord hate after encouraging him to pray that the Lord would recover His marriage. 

After the training, I had a day to settle materials for proofreading works to be held in Bengaluru this year which was also my official duty.

As we enjoyed a lunch lovefeast at a brother's home, the Lord burdened me to spend time with two families, two mothers, and three sisters in school, college, and about to take up a job. The burden released was on helping them in three things I shared with my own testimony on each burden. First, the daily reading of the Bible, second daily personal prayer, and third seeking the perfect will of the Lord for everything in our Christian life.

I do believe that was the timely word for all the sisters, both mothers and daughters. Then, I received a message from my wife about my daughter's matriculation board exam result. As per her skill and interest, she scored 92% in English Language and Literature. That was amazing! Other subjects were above average and good enough as she would not purse those hereafter.

Then, a brother and I left for Kurnool to embark on a week-long ministry literature journey to Rayalaseema (Andhra Pradesh).

That was a fruitful visit to Hyderabad one more time. Thank You Lord for Your grace.

From This Day, I will Bless You!

Is there yet seed in the barn? Indeed even the vine and the fig tree and the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit; from this day I will bless you. (Haggai 2:19, RecVer)

Turn to the stronghold, O prisoners with hope. This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you. (Zechariah 9:12, RecVer)

Today, as we concluded the weekend Serving Ones Training (SOT) In Hyderabad, the Lord did a marvelous work in my inward being. I experienced the Lord lifting away a heavy burden I had been bearing all these years. It was to do with my inward struggle, dealing with my self and natural man. As the Lord spoke and spoke His living and timely words, He unveiled me layer by layer. He also showed my being the divine light that penetrated deep within, brightening me up inwardly to the extend that I experienced a new birth into a new realm, the divine and mystical realm. It was indeed a great spiritual experience, and perhaps a second salvation! As we fellowshipped and fellowshipped on God's word, the Lord showered upon me Himself as the blessing! It all transpired through His speaking in the fellowship, in the training, and even personally. And He Himself spoke the living word to me, "from this day I will bless you (Haggai 2:19, RecVer)" and " I will restore double to you. (Zechariah 9:12, RecVer)."

The past few weeks and days, I had been through intense heat and pressure deep within my inward being. I could only confide in the Lord and take the cross. The bearing of the cross is not that easy. If not for the grace of God, I would have quit already. Self denial, giving up opinion and preferences, taking up the cross, and accepting every arrangement of the Lord in the Body were all graced to me one after the other. There was even a point when I inwardly told the Lord, "Enough, I can bear no longer. Have mercy on me Lord!" With all these gracious experiences, the Lord finally showed me the great light at the end of the long and dark tunnel! Hallelujah!

Surely, His mercy and goodness has followed me. I got a great deliverance! Last night, after hectic schedule with the training and meeting with the saints, I also spent time in prayer till midnight with a brother. This morning, in the freshness of the Lord’s presence I enjoyed the Lord’s Table meeting. Then, in coordination with a co-working brother, we presented the literature service burden, and then we had the final message on the one unique ministry.

I was so supplied by the ministry of the word. At the end of the message, along with other brothers, a concluding word was ministered. Though impromptu, the word the Lord gave me to minister on this lines. 

"It is the Lord’s mercy that we are in His recovery today. Not because of any of our merits, not even because of our loving the Lord or seeking the Lord, but because He has shown His mercy upon us, that captured us with truth and graced us to be in His recovery. Yes, we need to be vessel unto honor by being an open vessel and receive the breathing of God which is His Scriptures 2 Tim 3:16 that teaches us, gives us revelation, convicts us, corrects us, and instructs us in righteousness that we may be a man of God fully equipped. Then, in the one unique ministry, as we have a portion in it too, we can function for the building up of the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:11, 12)."

Later, as I read my daily portion of the word of God, He spoke to confirm my experience 

by giving me the living word, "from this day I will bless you (Haggai 2:19, RecVer)" and " I will restore double to you. (Zechariah 9:12, RecVer)." 

Beside, today I completed the forty-forth time of my Bible reading!

O what a salvation! O What a release and blessing! Bless me Lord, from this day! Restor double to me! Amen!

Chain Delay

At Bengaluru Airport, I encountered a unique situation for the first time ever in my life. I may not know the reason now, though I may be able to guess it. Perhaps, a fate or test of patience? Only God knows. This incident was really an experience of a life time. Truly incredible?

A few months ago I planned this trip, clubbing together the finalization of a proofreading project in Bengaluru with the fellowship and training in Hyderabad. So, I booked a multicity flights, Delhi-Bengaluru-Hyderabad on 6th and 7th May respectively. For the flight from Delhi to Bengaluru, my brother could not make it, neither could I cancel it. So, the price of a flight ticket was gone.

After all the works in Bengaluru, my flight to Hyderabad by Air India Express faced a unique situation. First, the flight was preponed. Then, I prepared to leave accordingly. Just as I left for the Airport, I received a message stating that the flight was delayed by about two hours. That give me enough time to access the lounge and had my lunch, did some  reading, and blogging.

At 4 PM, when it was time for deparure, another message came mentioning the further delay, pushing down the time to 6:15 PM. Again, another ample time in my hand, I continued my reading and blogging till 6 PM only to be told that the flight got further delayed till 7:45 PM. Another test of patience? Yet, when it was 8:30 PM, a phone call and a mail came to convey that the flight was canceled at the last minute. What else could I do, except to accept the fact?

People got panicked. A lot of argument ensued. It was a clash of the emotionally charged mental "titans." It was all needless and pointless to argue about a situation beyond human control. All this while, the sole reason for the chain delays was "operational issue." The fact of the matter was, there was a heavy downpour in Hyderabad that diverted most of the flights. It was an unavoidable circumstantial situation beyond human control. To me, simply accept the fact and let it go. Others may sure beg to differ. Well, opinion and feeling cannot change the fact. Amidst uncertainty, be quite, calm down, accept, and be at peace. This was the time silence was indeed golden.

I, therefore, considered carefully and looked to the Lord what to do. Quite and clam, I decided to cancel from the two options given, cancel or adjust to the next day afternoon flight. As I went to cancel, I received a message from the Airline itself stating that the flight was cancelled.

The next decision I made was to book the earliest flight for the next day, and got it confirmed at 3:00 AM by Indigo Airlines. So, I got out of T2 and went to T1 for this flight. This gave me another 6 hours time. So I wrote a blog. Then, a message of cancellation of this flight was sent to me. This forced me to get the help of the customer care and rescheduled to the next flight at 3:05 AM. Mind you, 5 minutes difference made the Airline cancel the flight, again due to an unknown operational reason. Having thus had sufficient time again, I spent time at another lounge, enjoyed my dinner,  and completed my Bible reading for the day. In a row, I enjoyed a double lounge benefit!

When it was time to board, there was yet another commotion at the boarding counter. Another confusion ensued as angry passengers argued with clueless staff members. Because, the flight was further delayed by an hour again. The situation became so heated that security personnel had to be summoned. I patiently and calmly sat down amidst the commotion, and started blogging this experience. What better thing to do than to write this unique experience? When I was done, finally boarding started.

I boarded and blogged this experience as I sat on my specially allocated seat, near the emergency door. What an incredible experience in this incredible India! A chain delay of flights. Life lesson: Things happened, just accept the fact. 

By this chain delay, I finished all my pending reading of daily portion of the Bible for two days and ministry messages along with double lounge benefits.

Happy journey! Bon voyage! 

Lord, journey mercy.

Counted Worthy!

And they were persuaded by him. And having called the apostles to them, they beat them and charged them not to speak based upon the name of Jesus; and they released them. 

So they went from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. 

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and announcing the gospel of Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:40-42, RecVer)

The apostles set the pattern of the gospel living for all the believers to follow suit. In the principle of the first happening, what the apostles were counted worthy of, by being persecuted in the name of Jesus, all the believers thereafter repeated the same experience. Today and tomorrow, it is the same narrow, constricted, and persecuted path that has been laid for the believers in the same Lord Jesus Christ. The path has been laid, but it is up to the Lord when His children will actually walk this path and be persecuted at the same time. According to the Scriptures, those whom the Lord allowed and graced to walk the path of persecution were counted worthy of the Lord. In actuality, in a very positive and spiritual sense, it is an honor to be persecuted in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder if I will be graced to be able get this honor. It's all up to the Lord’s sovereignty. Only time will tell.

Last Lord's day, I was informed of the imprisonment of six of our young saints who were preaching the gospel in Noida. When I heard the matter, it was a shocking surprise. Because, as per the law of the land quoted below, what transpired should not have been legally correct.

Article 25, Constitution of India 1950

(Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion). It guarantees the freedom of conscience, the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate religion to all citizens.

However, the world we live in is always against Christ. Satanic forces were behind instigating persecution to the children of God. It was then during the apostles' time, so it is now in our time, in our nation. Nothing new, and nothing to surprised of. Satan's kingdom has been shaken! He then breathed threatening knowing fully well, his time of execution of the Lord Jesus' victory at the cross is near. But all his deeds will only strengthen the Lord’s move and serve as a wake up call to all sleeping Christians. What Satan meant for harm, the Lord overturned it as a timely good for His children. Praise the Lord!

Sincerely, I worship the Lord for allowing persecution to His beloved children. My appreciation and regard for these young siants have shot up due to this incident. My eyes became more widely opened to the Lord’s move in North India. I could perceive that this is a new beginning among the Hindi heartland for His testimony. Amidst saffronisation and amidst persecution, the glorious banner has been raised up high, "Jesus is Lord, Christ is Victor!"

Yet on the human side, I also have a prayer and concern for those still in bonds. I pray daily for the Lord’s covering upon them, for His grace to supply and sustain them, that they would experience and gain the Lord much much more. And that they also be released and all charges dropped soon. I beseech the sovereign Lord for their early release and timely intervention. Until then, my prayer will follow on. Despite all, the gospel preaching should go on, day by day, house to house, as the apostle did so.

What a grace to be counted worthy to suffer in His name! This is rejoice worthy! 

An Experience in Bengaluru

Yesterday morning I arrived in Bengaluru and put up at CEO Centre SAICS, the proposed venue for the upcoming Kannada proofreading project in July-Agust this year. I had to come alone as my brother had to take care of urgent situation that transpired in Noida last weekend. Nonetheless, three other brothers from Bengaluru accompanied me to take care of the trial run of the food quality for the proposed project. Thereafter, we had a time of fellowship with the potential volunteers for the same. The Lord took care of all the matters in a wise way, though not expected.

The moment I arrived, I spent time with the manager of the venue and briefed him of all the practical details and some foreseen situations. Then, step by step, the Lord led me through in all the tasks that needed my attention and accomplished the purposes of my visit to Bengaluru. One thing that was unavoidable was the long time spent in commuting between places. Hours and hours were eaten up in traveling within the city. But that also turned that to a wonderful time of fellowship with the brothers. 

One brother, in particular, took his driving me as an opportunity to share to me how much he has been helped to read the Bible. He testifed that he never was used to reading even his own academic books, much less the Bible. He had been struggling in the past to breakthrough in Bible reading. But his breakthrough came only recently as a brother helped him with the way to read the Bible and gave an example of me reading the Bible as he saw me reading many times. Last year in Belgaum, he physically saw me reading the Bible in hotel room where he chanced to enter. I had no intention of showing to anyone my Bible reading. Since I had time, I just read as I used to do so. That incident created a great impression on him and since then he has been exerciseing to read the Bible, taking me as his pattern. Then, the Lord gave him a breakthrough and now he has been reading for about an hour each day about ten chapters. In addition, he also impressed his wife and another sister to do the same, giving my pattern. Now, all the three have been reading the Bible regularly. 

He took the time to share this and thanked the Lord for the help. I had no special feeling as such, because it is purely the Lord’s mercy that I can read the Bible.  Nothing to be proud of. My simple reply is, "Praise the Lord!" If someone could be help, it is because God has helped me. It is all God’s work, and I am only a vessel. Besides the Bible reading, I also encouraged him to be a man of prayer. The word and prayer should always go together. 

As I left for the Airport to catch my flight to Hyderabad, I just received a phone call informing me of the flight delay. I had already checked out so I went ahead even though too early and I decided to use the Airport lounge. At the Airport, I first spent time reading my Bible again, my daily portion, as usual. Then, I accessed the lounge, enjoyed the abundant supply of food to my heart's content. Afterwhich, I enjoyed a ministry portion which I also posted in some WhatsApp group. 

As I exit the lounge to board the delayed flight, it was further delayed. That gave me time to enjoy more ministry materials, and also write a blog that has been pending concerning prayer for the present poll, the general election going on in India. Once I was done and the time arrived for boarding, there was a further delay. So much commotion occurred at the boarding counter, passengers were complaining about the delay, and relay delays, and some cancelling or changing flights. The matter did not matter to me at all. For I know God is in control. This delay only gave me more time to keep writing about my experiences. 

In this case too, all things worked together for good. I am happy waiting as I know God has yet another wonderful plan for me. Time will reveal soon.

God us good! Yes, He is good, all the time, in all things. So, I give thanks to Him at all times and also for all things.

This is a wonderful impromptu experiences in Bengaluru. What a rest when others are restless. For I know my God.

Giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father, (Ephesians 5:20, RecVer)