Why Christians Suffer?

But according to the Holy One who called you, you yourselves also be holy in all your manner of life; Because it is written, “You shall be holy because I am holy.” And if you call as Father the One who without respect of persons judges according to each one’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear, (1 Peter 1:15-17, RecVer)

This week, the Lord has been speaking to me particularly as He also spoke to the whole church as we are pursuing the truth concerning the Christian life under the government of God. The Lord made it very clear to me that all that transpired in a believer's life is sovereignly under His government for the purpose of fulfilling His economy. Since we are the kingdom people to fulfill God’s purpose, God also carries our His work of judging, purifying His children to be made Holy as He is holy to clear up the entire universe and bring in the new heaven and new earth. 

The judging in 1 Peter is a daily judging under His government that His children go through for purification and this began from His house. Therfore, the sufferings in iur Christian life.

Beloved, do not think that the fiery ordeal among you, coming to you for a trial, is strange, as if it were a strange thing happening to you; But inasmuch as you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice exultingly. (1 Peter 4:12-13, RecVer)

As the Lord judges, our experiences are like going through a fiery ordeal, as gold or silver is being smelted for purification. God has His divine purpose in allowing this fiery ordeals. 

First, we must remember that despite being saved and born into the kingdom of God, despite the Spirit being in our spirit, we are still in the old creation. Our soul and body are still in the process of transformation. The Lord uses "strange dealings" to deal with us. It could be health issues, financial crisis, relationship misunderstandings, job related, etc. But the wise God uses all these to deal with the old creation until He can clear them all for our good and for His divine purpose. So, we "suffer" under His government. 

Second, He uses all dealings as a means of disciplining His children as our loving Father.

And you have completely forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when reproved by Him; For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons. For what son is there whom the father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all sons have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore we have had the fathers of our flesh as discipliners and we respected them; shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined for a few days as it seemed good to them; but He, for what is profitable that we might partake of His holiness. Now no discipline at the present time seems to be a matter of joy, but of grief; but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised by it. (Hebrews 12:5-11, RecVer)

Third, as He disciplines us, by His mercy, we may turn to Him, learn to trust in Him, and live by the Spirit.

But I say, Walk by the Spirit and you shall by no means fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16, RecVer)

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25, RecVer)

Fourth, in this way of being disciplined by the Holy Spirit and living by the Spirit, we will gain God, grow and be mature in the divine life.

Fifth, all these fiery ordeals that we go through under His sovereignty are our participating in the sufferings of Christ for the fulfillment of His divine purpose in gaining us for His Body to be builded up.

Since, we cannot escape the hands of God following us in His sovereignty, we need to have a proper attitude to receive everything as from the Lord for our own good and for the fulfillment of His divine purpose. The Lord Jesus Himself is a good pattern for us to follow, commiting all to the Father.

So then let those also who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19, RecVer)

We must pass the time of our daily living in the fear of God; the holy and reverential fear of God, knowing that He sees and knows all of our inner being and outward condition.

Pass the time of your sojourning in fear, (1 Peter 1:17, RecVer)

Therefore, let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.

In like manner, younger men, be subject to elders; and all of you gird yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore be humbled under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, (1 Peter 5:5-6, RecVer)

In this way, we live our Christian life under the government of God for the fulfillment of His divine economy. 

I enjoyed these words this week and was very much enlightened concerning the purpose of sufferings a Christian go through and the proper attitude required. Today, I released this burden and also my personal enjoyment and enlightenment of the word of God in the church meeting as the concluding word of the meeting. I believe, the saints also received the Lord’s timely speaking to the church and we all were richly fed today.

These are the answers to the million dollar question many Christians who presumed to have a dreamy "fairy tale spiritual life" by ends up suffering. The answer to the paradoxical question, "Why Christians suffer?"

Praise the Lord for His speaking! Praise the Lord for His dealings! Lord, gain us fully unto maturity for Your divine purpose.

Wedding Testimony Meeting

The church in Gurugram has finally conducted a proper marriage for the first time today! What a blessing it is to witness the Lord opening the door for many marriages to come. The church has indeed been blessed with many young working saints who love the Lord, faithful to the truth, enjoying the church life, and are of marriageable age. Though we had some hiccups in the past concerning marriages, this time the Lord led us through to witness a wonderful testimony of two saints getting married.

As a brother in the church, I have been involved from the initiation of this fellowship between a brother from Delhi and a sister from Gurugram. After months of waiting, fellowship between the two families under the covering of the church brothers in Delhi and Gurugram transpired twice. Then, a couple of practical fellowship followed, together with many meetings of prayers. Then, finally, the 14th of February 2025 was decided for the wedding testimony meeting.

I personally picked up the burden to accomplish whatever I need to to accomplish, especially in coordination with the sister's family. I also took the initiative to draft the meeting schedule with much consideration for the ministry of the word. As these points were brought to fellowship, with some adjustments, the brothers confirmed the schedule and the meeting direction was set.

Many saints also participated in the practical arrangement, especially, the young people. I was glad to witness what potential the young people have if channeled properly. They all were serving voluntarily with satisfaction. 

Besides all the background works, me and my wife had our portion in sharing testimony for the bride. My wife testified of all the good things she knew about the bride from the first time they met till today. I gave a future testimony for the couple from today going forward as married couple. I exhorted them to be one as in God's eyes a married couple is one flesh. To maintain this oneness, they must exercise to fellowship and pray together for every matter. As married couple, they must also love one another. Since our human love is fragile, the divine love is needed by which the husband and wife can love one another eternally. With these few words, I also participated in the prayer for the blessing of the newly married couple and declared the two as married, henceforth, husband and wife.

Later after the meeting, we; a brother, myself, and the elder brother of the bride, coordinated to drop the newly married couple to their new home in Delhi Dwarka. There too, we were privileged to have the first home meeting and prayer with the newly married couple. A responsible brother and his wife joined us too.

What a blessing to witness and participate in this wedding testimony meeting in Gurugram! As the church prayed and blessed the couple, the Lord will definitely bless the couple. I trust this is also a testimony to many young people who will be married.

May the Lord bless the couple!

Lessons on Kindness

Since childhood I have been shown kindness and I have been taught to show kindness to all, especially to those who are in need. By the Lord’s mercy, I have been graced to show mercy and kindness to whoever I can, within my capacity.  Of late, I learned a lesson even in showing kindness.

I had given hospitality to a good number of brothers and sisters as I accommodated them to live with us as a family. In all possible ways, I treated them as my family members. But when theses ones were well off and could stand on their own, their reaction changed. They behaved as though they received nothing from us. Some even became negative and instead of appreciation, they started speaking negatively. Sometimes, I wonder if I did the right thing in giving them hospitality when they needed it. Though I did not expect any reward from them, at least, an act of humanity would require a word of appreciation or thanks as I did to others whoever gave hospitality to me. Based on these experiences, I learned a lesson. Give hospitality, show kindness to others, even show mercy and grace, but never expect anything in return.

At the same time, I also begin to consider if I should give hospitality or show kindness to all who asked. Should not I discern if I was led by the Lord to give hospitality or show kindness? Perhaps, I took it for granted that doing "good" to others is automatically of God. Sometimes, my natural goodness may be as bad as acting in the flesh. Perhaps, I need more discernment even before doing any "good" to anyone. This is the lesson I need to learn.

Because of such negative reactions from those whom I showed mercy, I have been thoroughly exposed of my natural man even in doing good. I was just natural. Now, I am very careful to act naturally even if it is for good, especially the good of others.

Recently, a fresh experience ignited a question within me of my "goodness" to others. I gave full free Dom to a brother to eat with lunch at no cost. I even gave him the freedom to consider my house as his own. For a good number of months, he has been eating lunch at his own time in iur house, completely free meal. I gave him this offer when I realized his wife was not around to cook for him and he had nothing to eat for lunch during office working days. But his act of kindness was not appreciated bynhim at all. Rather, he negatively spoke about the food and abruptly stopped eating with us even without informing me. Then, I realised, my act of kindness was taken for granted and was never even considered beneficial. I sincerely regret showing him the kindness of offering him a free meal with our family every working day. What a lesson! The same goes to another sister whom I thought needed help and did my best to help her. Yet, later she took it for granted and did things in her own way without any fellowship. Perhaps, she needed more help in fellowshipping with the saints. Despite her reaction, I still kept the door open for her to ask or request foe help anytime she needed.

These are few lessons I have been learning regarding kindness and giving hospitality. Yes, according to the Scriptures I must be hospitable irrespective of the reaction of the guests. It is just a responsibility. Yet, I must also discern and not act in my natural goodness. In fact, I must also learn to deny my soul life and follow the Spirit's leading even in showing kindness, giving hospitality, and doing good deeds to others. Thank God for these lessons!

Lessons on Shepherding

Since the second week of January I was not able to call the brothers I had been calling weekly for phone call prayer and shepehrding. In fact, I had been doing that for years altogether with the hope that they could be fully shepherded into the church life. But it did not turn out as I expected. On the one hand, a disappointment, yet on the other hand, a test of my faithful shepherding. 

In this situation, I did not force myself to somehow continue the shepherding when I practically cannot. I left them to the hands of God. If God wants to gain them for the church life, I felt, they should have been gained already. With so many calls over the years, I truly felt they should have been gained. If not, either my shepherding had flaws or the Lord wanted to train me further in shepherding or the Lord is preparing them for the right time. With this realization, I do not worry that much now. For I know, it is the Lord who can gain people for Himself, not out of my labor, but by His sovereign will.

Yesterday, we were supposed to have a regular group meeting but majority of the saints could not join due exams and health issues of the families. But two saints, one sister and one brother, who have been under our shepherding and yet not regular for the church life, turned up. So, I felt it best to change the meeting to a truth pursuing meeting that can meet their need in the best way.

Therefore, we pursued lessons 1 and 2 of the Shepherding Materials Vol. 6. The lessons were, A Great Mystery - Christ and the Church, and The Two Aspects of the Church. Then, we had a detailed fellowship on these two lessons. I was glad that the Lord led us and made things clear concerning Christ and the church. I believe, for this purpose of specific shepherding, the Lord arranged this special meeting with these two saints. 

Having done this, I still commit them to the Lord who can only bring them into the church life. I also have seen many others coming to the church life without much follow up as I did with these ones. Sometimes I wonder if I were trying in vain to bring people to the church life which the Lord might want to wait or has other plan. These are the areas where I need to learn to shepherd. 

May the Lord lead them in His way at His time. Let the will of the Lord be done.

Word of Love to the Young Ones

Furthermore, brothers, we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that even as you received from us how you ought to walk and please God, even as indeed you do walk, that you abound still more. For you know what charges we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; That each one of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; That no one overstep and take advantage of his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger concerning all these things, even as we also said before to you and solemnly charged. For God has not called us for uncleanness but in sanctification. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-7, RecVer)

On the Lord’s Day, on the 9th of February, the Lord gave me a strong burden to release to the young brothers and sisters concerning our Christian testimony as we live in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation. 

That you may be blameless and guileless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as luminaries in the world, (Philippians 2:15, RecVer)

We had a time of fellowship for over an hour when we pray-read the verses in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7, with an emphasis on verses 3 and 4 concerning our holy living for the church life. In love and with much burden, I exhorted the young people to take care of the basic and fundamental practices of a normal Christian living. A personal time with the Lord daily, a study of the Bible daily, maintaining spiritual dairy record and prayer book, and actively participating in the church life. Then, I released my burden on looking to the Lord for His grace and mercy, much more for His covering protection to live a sanctified life. This generation has been so corrupted that immorality, sensuality and sinning have become a fashion. But it must not be so with the sanctified children of God. There are certain practical steps one has to take. Being passive will not work. Sin is running in the blood of every fallen man, even though saved. Our spirit may be saved, but our soul is still on the process and the our body too. Therfore, there must be a willing effort from our side to turn away for the temptations and the lust of the eyes. The Lord will grace those who are willing to be graced. But without one's initiation, God will not interfere in the free will He has already bestowed upon man. Man's deed will determine God’s action upon him. One cannot be so foolish as to neglect his responsibility and trust everything to God. One cannot be so deceived to think that he tread the world and not be affected.

Can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? (Proverbs 6:28, RecVer)

So, I warned the young ones, not to give room to Satan. Especially in minute matter of contacting opposite sex. Lust is within everyone. It just takes a second to ignite it. For I have seen that many have fallen by disregarding this simple matter of contacting opposite gender. In this age of social media, contacting one another is so easy. Just a message "Hi" is sufficient to ignite the lust of the flesh which can further lead to the whole body being burned down.

I also encouraged the young ones to pray for their life, career, marriage, that, in every thing, the perfect will of the Lord be done. I even gave my own testimony of prayers and seeking the perfect will of the Lord. 

As I released the burden the Lord bestowed upon me, I was quite joyful. I could also sense that the young people have received the burden I released to them. This was a word of love to the young ones.

May the Lord preserve each one of them to have a sanctified living for the church life.

Power of Pressure

Last Monday, the 27th of January, I was so so touched by the ministry portion we pursued together in the morning at the office. It was indeed the timely speaking of the Lord. The message was perfectly titled, The Power of Pressure.

The Power of Pressure

Excerpt from The Present Testimony (3) CWWN, vol.10

In 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 he said, “We are pressed on every side but not constricted [this indicates the outward circumstances]; unable to find a way out but not utterly without a way out; persecuted but not abandoned; cast down but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the putting to death of Jesus that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”

Where there is pressure, there is power. If a Christian does not know pressure, he cannot know power. Only those who have experienced the stress of pressure can understand power. The more pressure one experiences, the more power he has, and the more he understands power.

Whenever there is no pressure, there is no power. Only pressure can produce power.

A life that is pressured is a life that has power. A life without pressure is a life without power. A life with great pressure is a life with great power. A life with a little pressure is a life with little power.

At first we did not have the power to pray. But with pressure, we can pray. The stronger the pressure is from God, the more powerful our prayers will become. Therefore, let us learn the lesson that pressure produces power. The purpose of pressure is not to oppress us, but to afford us the opportunity to turn it into power. Now we can understand why God listens to some prayers, but not to others.

Day by day as you face more pressure, remember that pressure is power. You should not neglect pressure. 

In the end the greater the pressure you face, the greater the power you have, and you will find yourself overcoming everything and receiving more power.

The following week, this was exactly my experience. We had a back to back video messages all packed in two days. Then, I was busy fellowshipping and updating my brother who coordinates with me for official literature service. Point by point, all that were important for him to know, I updated them in detail. There were meetings held in Delhi and Gurugram for fellowshipping with the brothers who were just released from the prison. Besides, pending official works I completed them one by one. The last important one being the Board Meeting including the two new directors. I had to update them all the crucial functions that they needed to know as directors. In fact, this board meeting went on for about two hours. But it was worth it. We began with prayers and had the meeting smoothly in sweet coordination. Then, three pending Re-KYC were completed for three bank accounts as I had been awaitng for my co-director to be available. And finally, I had to restructure our coordination among the four directors by adding the directors and creating a new group for coordination purpose.  O how blessed I felt when I could official coordinate with four brothers. I flet like I was being shot in my arm, strengthening me very much. Foe the last four months, I was all alone handling official matters as my co-direction was unavailable and the two new directors weer not official brought in to function. Now, I rejoice in that we are like the four living creatures in the book of Ezekiel coordinating for the Lord’s move.

When I look back, I wonder how these things could be accomplished in just a week's time. Many important pending works in just a week! It surely was the grace of the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit. Where there was pressure, there the Lord gives power to meet the need!

Then, today morning, I was planning for a whole day, fully packed schedule. But the Lord knew what actually was needed. I needed rest. He led me to cancel the whole day's plan I made and I just took rest the whole day. I woke up to join the prayer meeting of the church, brothers fellowship, my personal Bible reading and prayer.

How the Lord changed my plan was rather critical. As I woke up early in the morning from a very little sleep as I have been suffering from bodyache, fever, cold and cough, the moment I made coffee, I felt I was going to faint. The same experience I had when I was bitten by a dog, lost a lot of blood and was inwardly troubled related to my housing. That day too, I fainted. Today morning, I fainted on my chair for a while. When I came to my sense, I heard my brothers calling upon the Lord’s name. Then, only I realised I had fainted. My brother were very concerned but I knew the reason. I needed more rest. So, after the morning fellowship, I took enough rest.

Pressure, pressure, pressure, every where pressure. But the Lord manifested His power out of this pressure. The pressures should be a reminder to turn to the Lord whole heartedly and experience the resurrection power. Without the Lord, pressure will lead only to pain. But with the Lord, pressure will lead to power!

O what an experience of pressure! O what an enjoyment of the resurrection life! Pressure produces power! Hallelujah!

Rejoice in the Lord Always!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4, RecVer)

Today, as the church, we came together in the home of a brother who was just released after a hundred thirty two days of confinement in Mathura for the sake of the gospel on charge of false accusation when they were simply meeting as Christian brothers and sisters. Since then, it has been a trying time for the churches in North India. Nevertheless, the Lord has been faithfully shepherding all the churches in His way. O we have learned a lot of spiritual lessons and life lessons during these times of trials. Our prayers have been intensified and the way we live our church life has also been adjusted very much. As for me, I have learned some important lessons. Officially, spiritually, and personally my view of things have been adjusted greatly. I could see things in deeper and clearer ways which otherwise, I could never have seen. Even my view about India and its political atmosphere have changed. I could see things clearly; things of the present and things of the future. What a wakeup call! Lord Jesus!

After the brothers were released, we all entered into the video training in Delhi as it was on the weekend. On Monday, we had a time of fellowship with all the five brothers with their family members in Delhi. Some shared their spiritual learnings, some shared words of encouragement, some shared their experiences, and some shared what transpired in the prison. The conclusion of the matter was: God is sovereign, we are nothing, we can do nothing, God is everything and God can do everything. Therefore, commit yourself fully to the Lord. The Lord will do His work.

We have to walk the way of faith after entering into the gate of faith. Just trust and obey, the Lord will do His work as He led the children of Israel into victory over Jericho.

So then let those also who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19, RecVer)

Beloved, do not think that the fiery ordeal among you, coming to you for a trial, is strange, as if it were a strange thing happening to you; But inasmuch as you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice exultingly. 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. For it is time for the judgment to begin from the house of God; and if first from us, what will be the end of those who disobey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:12-17, RecVer)

Today, the 4th of February, we had a time of fellowship, prayer, and thanksgiving. We began with a hymn on rejoicing.

E717

1

O let us rejoice in the Lord evermore,

Though all things around us be trying,

Though floods of affliction like sea

billows roar,

It's better to sing than be sighing.

Then rejoice evermore, rejoice evermore,

It is better to sing than be sighing:

It is better to live than be dying;

So let us rejoice evermore.

2

O let us rejoice in the Lord evermore,

When the darts of the tempter are flying,

For Satan still dreads, as he oft did of yore,

Our singing much more than our sighing.

3

O let us rejoice in the Lord evermore,

When sickness upon us is stealing,

No cordial like gladness our strength can restore,

For joy is the fountain of healing.

Then, the saints prayed one by one followed by a brother sharing their experiences and enjoyment in the prison. Almost the entire church turned up and we all rejoiced together for all the things the Lord has done. Praise the Lord for all these experiences!

We enjoyed our dinner lovefeast. And read the word of God as warnings to pay heed to.

Therefore we ought to give heed more abundantly to the things which have been heard lest perhaps we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved firm and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, How shall we escape if we have neglected so great a salvation, which, having had its beginning in being spoken by the Lord, has been confirmed to us by those who heard, God bearing witness with them both by signs and wonders and by various works of power and by distributions of the Holy Spirit according to His will? (Hebrews 2:1-4, RecVer)

Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the provocation, in the day of trial in the wilderness, (Hebrews 3:7-8, RecVer)

Let us fear therefore, lest, a promise being left of entering into His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. (Hebrews 4:1, RecVer)

Therefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us be brought on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God, (Hebrews 6:1, RecVer)

Let us come forward to the Holy of Holies with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22, RecVer)

Therefore let us also, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, put away every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and run with endurance the race which is set before us, Looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2, RecVer)

With all these speakings and readings, we concluded our fellowship. Hallelujah!