Learn Christ, Love Christ, Live Christ

Twenty five years ago in 2000, on the first day of my Master in Computer Application (MCA) class at Madras Christian College (MCC) in Chennai, I was praying for a prayer partner and wrote a theme that has been my spiritual pursuit those days on the note book of a classmate who sat next to me, first row second from right as I was on the first right first row. The theme was, "Learn Christ, Love Christ, Live Christ." Later, this classmate became my friend, brother, prayer partner, and even co-worker serving the Lord in the church as he has been blessed by the Lord in taking up the responsibility of a local church.

Twenty five years later in 2025, today I attended the live semiannual training at LSM Ministry Campus in Anaheim, California USA, and the first two messages on Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (3) on the book of Philippians exactly explained the theme of my college days. O what a joy that I could easily understand and digest the burden of the message! The messages were ministered by two mature brothers I revere and regard highly, Br. EM and Br. RK.

Learn Christ

Not that I speak according to lack, for I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be content. I know also how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound and to lack. (Philippians 4:11-12, RecVer)

Paul had learnt the secret of experiencing and enjoying Christ in all kinds of circumstances, environment, and situations. To him, every person, matter, and things were God’s arrangement. He learned to experience Christ in all of them. He learned the secret!

For this, he brought everything thing to the Lord in prayer.

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:6, RecVer)

Love Christ 

Paul was a lover of the Lord Jesus Christ. From the day he converted to Christ, he had been pursuing Christ at the cost of his life and all that he treasured before.

But what things were gains to me, these I have counted as loss on account of Christ. But moreover I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8, RecVer)

He loved the Lord Jesus to the uttermost and counted all thing loss on account of Christ. Christ meant everything to him.

I pursue toward the goal for the prize to which God in Christ Jesus has called me upward. (Philippians 3:14, RecVer)

Live Christ 

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21, RecVer)

As Paul learned Christ and loved Christ, he must have had tens of thousands of conversations with the Lord. He must have spent a personal, intimate, private, and sweet fellowship with the Lord to the extend that he was fully saturated with the Lord in his mind, emotion, and will, in addition to his being one spirit with the Lord. This was obvious in his taking the mind of Christ, taking Christ as his pattern.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, 

Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God a treasure to be grasped, But emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men; And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and that the death of a cross. 

Therefore also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11, RecVer)

What a pattern Paul was in taking Christ as his pattern! So also, we must take Christ as our pattern by learning Christ, loving Christ, and living Christ!

My college days theme even before I came into the church life is a part of the ministry that time has revealed and proven to he true. This time, the Lord confirmed it in His up-to-date speaking. May this be mine and my family's theme all the days of our lives. That, Christ as our pattern issue in experiencing Christ, enjoying Christ, and expressing Christ as a preparation of His Bride for His second coming!

Learn Christ, Love Christ, Live Christ!

Lord's Day in USA

Today, as visiting saints from India, we attended the Lord’s Table Meeting at the English speaking district of the church in Irvine. Every year, the church in Irvine gave us hospitality for those attending the live semiannual training and we git to attend the church meeting on the Lord’s Day. What a grace! 

Today, the prophesying meeting of the church was on the one new man. As the brothers opened up the meeting for prophesying, the Lord led me to share my portion to the Body. As I have been experiencing the truth of the reality of baptism, I connected it with the reality of the one new man. Two Bible verses that I based my prophesying are on the following.

Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, (Ephesians 2:15, RecVer)

Or are you ignorant that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? We have been buried therefore with Him through baptism into His death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we might walk in newness of life. For if we have grown together with Him in the likeness of His death, indeed we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5, RecVer)

Christ has created the one new man at the cross. We have been baptized into His death. To be in the reality of the one new man is to live in the reality of baptism. In the one new man, only one Person lives, Christ. In the reality of baptism, everything of Satan, the world, the self, the flesh, the old creation, and all negative things have been crucified. This makes the reality of baptism the living of Christ. Therefore, living in the reality of the one new man is the living in the reality of baptism, which is the living of Christ; no longer I but Christ!

In fact, today morning I enjoyed this portion of the words so much, living in the likeness of His death and His resurrection. What I enjoyed was also what thebLord led me to prophesy. Praise the Lord for the one new man! In fact, in the meeting saints from Europe, UK, India, and other part of USA were present. This was indeed the meeting of the one new man. 

Then, we enjoyed a lovefeast lunch with the Korean speaking saints and later we visited Grace Terrace or Grace Garden Memorial at Rose Hills.

At Grace Garden, a brother in his mid seventies who is also the manager of the garden, gave us an overview of the design and burden of the cemetery. The garden was designed on the theme of the crucial truths in the Lord’s recovery that comprises eight major items of the truth of the Bible. From it's main gate to the end, all the Bible verses and landscaping were on the line of the truth in sequence: God’s economy, the Triune God, the All-inclusive Christ, the Spirit, the Believers, the Church (the Body of Christ), the Kingdom, and the New Jerusalem! From the entrance to the end, there were hymns on these truths, Bibles verses on God’s judicial redemption and God’s organic salvation. This is a dignified and glorious view of the entire Bible. The cemetery was designed with the vision of death being the gateway to the New Jerusalem. 

Prophesying for the building up of the Body of Christ and a view of death and burial as the gateway to the New Jerusalem was experienced today! What a Lord’s Day in USA! Praise the Lord!

Gleanings from USA Visits

This time, a visit to the USA also included the visits to some sightseeing spots, not according to the world's way but according to the leading of the local saints. The saints that we visited have been laboring on their localities and the Lord also blessed them bountifully. We came to witness what the Lord has been doing through their labors. Personally, I have seen the wisdom the Lord gave to the brothers in the way and the places they labor. I have been very much impressed by what I have seen. Besides, the hospitality arrangement for all of us from India was exemplary. 

In addition to the blending and fellowship we enjoyed with the saints in the churches in the Bay Area, we were also led to visit some places of interest. The brothers took all the pains to take us to all these places. What a favor from the Lord that I could be a part of the team from India to be able to participate in this trip. The places that we visited are the following:

• Golden Gate Bridge 
• University of Berkeley 
• Fremont Conference Center
• University of Davis
• Sacraments New Meeting Hall
• Alpha House, a 335 acres in Nevada County
• Hatchery and a Dam on American River
• Old Sacramento 

One thing that impressed me was the wisdom of the brothers in purchasing lands many many years ago and some recent ones. They had the vision for the present need and also for the future plan. The Fremont Conference Center was built with the latest technology has now become useful for the perfecting of the saints of all ages. The Alpha House in Nevada County was very thoughtful for meeting the need of the saints for spiritual retreat as it was an hour drive from the bustling city life, far away enough to be secluded only for spiritual training. This place was once a goldmine and now turned into spiritual goldmine for the saints to gain more gold of the divine life through perfecting training. These visits surely have a great impact on me. 

To all these, I can only thank the Lord and worship Him for all that He has done through the ministry. I have been blessed to glean from all the places we visited. Yes, gleaning from the old creation for the new creation! What a pattern! Praise the Lord!

Revisiting America

The Lord sovereignly arranged another trip for me to vist USA this time. This was my third visit to USA. Despite the political turmoil surround LA in California and the crack down on illegal immigrants, those with legal documents have no issue. This trip was particularly useful for me in many ways. 

First, I was able to complete my assignment of re-listening the recorded messages of our recent training of five days which was held in Hyderabad. This re-listening is one of the requirements for attending the second phase of the training to beheld in August in Chennai. The long hours travel time from my home to New Delhi Airport; then while checking in, passing through security checks and waiting to board the flight; the flight time from New Delhi to Dubai and from Dubai to San Francisco; I was able to complete the assignment. Fourteen sessions of fellowship that were coverd in five days, I was able to go through all of them the second time by utilising all the time required to reach USA. I was freshly supplied by the fellowship, high above the ground in a realm of buoyancy!

Second, this trip enabled me to experience the Lord in a fresh way of living the life of baptism. This was also in line with the present HWMR.

For if we have grown together with Him in the likeness of His death, indeed we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6:5, RecVer)

From Day 1 of my trip to USA, the Lord graced me to experience living in the likeness of His death. This was a precious lesson that had been due for long l in my life experience. Though I shared my personal testimony, a couple of times, of how I got save and how I came into the church life, which I rarely shared, I never had even an inkling of self promotion or self glorification. I exercised my spirit to testify only when asked to testify and limited my words to how much was needed to be spoken within the limited time frame. This was altogether a new learning and a new  experience for me too. Thank God, that this time the Lord gave me the opportunity and the grace to experience Him in His death, and live the life of baptism. Praise the Lord!

Third, in all these places we visited this time, seven local churches in the Bay Area; Hayward, Fremont, Davis, San Francisco, Sacramento, Berkeley, and Burlingame, we enjoyed a sweet coordination among ourselves, the visiting saints from India, in our fellowship, sharing of testimonies and reports, so much so that we could blend well with the saints in all these localities. We were mutually shepherded and we learn from one another. O what a blessed blending in the Body!

These experiences have also testified in reality how much we have been blended and builded up together in the Body. Thank the Lord for such an experience! The ministry has brought in the reality of the one new man. This is not merely an outward trip to USA but a trip of an experience of Christ for the blending and building up in the Body.

As my visits to USA were in the past, this visit also is also a blessed visit. God has blessed America and use this country for His move all over the world. 

God bless America!

Teenagers Training in Gurugram

The things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9, RecVer)

Last weekend we had a three days' teenagers training in Gurugram. This was, in actuality, a training for the families in the church in Gurugram. Since it was proposed to be held in Gurugram, we brothers were trying our best to arrange hospitality in the old training center or hire a convention centre, but nothing worked out. The only option we had was to open our homes and accommodate as many as possible. The arrangements were made in such a way that about eighty plus saints be given hospitality and arrange a meeting for the same in the existing meeting that we thought, could accommodate maximum fifty saints. However, with all adjustments, we could finally accommodate all the saints; hospitality and meeting place. We experienced the Lord’s bountiful grace and everything was taken care.

On the Lord’s Day, we had meeting in a hired banquet of a hotel as the consummation of the training. Though no portion was assigned to me but as the need arose I opened myself to the fellowship of the brothers. On Saturday, according to the brothers' fellowship, I shared the significances of baptism before the baptism of teenagers. And on the Lord’s Day, at the spur of the moment, I was asked to share something. So, based on what I heard from the testimonies of the teenagers, I summarised the sharings into three points.

• Love the Lord Jesus 
• Love the Word of God
• Love the Presence of God; Spend time in Prayer with the Lord every day, develop a personal, intimate, fellowship, and relationahip with the Lord

It was a great blessing to witness our young ones being cared for and trained in the best possible way. I thanked the Lord for all the serving ones who labored so much and shepherded the saints. 

The concluding words shared by a brother was also very apt. Whatever they have learned, received, heard, and seen must now be put to practice.

Lord, bless all our young ones. Preserve them, prepare them, and perfect them to continue to bear Your testimony and await Your return.

Reality of Baptism in Union City

The Christian life is a life of baptism. The reality of baptism is to live in the death of Chirst by being baptised into Christ, not just once, but living in it's reality where the self, the natural man, the old man, the flesh, the world, and everything not of God is put to death. This experience of baptism is possible only in the mingled spirit by being in Christ into whom we have been baptised. Only then, resurrection becomes a reality too, not a future state but a present process that is being experienced day by day. 

Yesterday, I landed in San Francisco for a blending trip in the Bay Area of California prior to attending the live Semiannual Training in Anaheim. In this trip, my first experience was the experience of Christ in His death. Though a few days ago I spoke about baptism and baptised some, I have not yet been baptised myself fully into it's reality thoroughly. The Lord gave this opportunity to experience the reality of baptism.

Though I was baptised about twenty five years ago, I am yet to fully experience the reality of baptism. The Lord has given me many opportunities to experience baptism now and then. Little by little, here a little, there a little, now and then, He has brought me to experience it. He has chosen appropriate time and place to accomplish His work of baptism in me. This surely is the mercy of the Lord.

Last night, I was given hospitality in a brother's house in Union City, California. As I lay down to sleep, the Spirit wrestled with me to deal with my self. I could not sleep properly. Something of my self bothered me. I knew right away that I need to be dealth with. Therefore, I prayed that this "fox's tail" of my self be completely put to death. I had a fresh and thorough consecration to deal with it again. 

The fact that I was given hospitality in Union City reminds me of my need to experience and enjoy the result of baptism, a living in an organic union with the Triune God and also with His Body in oneness, in one accord, and in sweet harmony. I reckon this sleepless night in Union City as the turning point in my life to live in the reality of baptism that I may experience and enjoy the reality of baptism in my Christian life. That my Christian life indeed be a life of baptism.

Later, I spent time to pray for all the prayer burdens the Lord has been burdening me these days. Then, I enjoyed my morning revival on the same matter, living in the reality of baptism. The Lord’s speaking was so timely. It matched my experience and it confirmed my experience too. This is the New Testament ministry. 

We have been buried therefore with Him through baptism into His death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4, RecVer)

Oh what a blessed night in Union City! There I began to experience the reality of baptism in areas of my life that needs thorough baptism and ushered me to the reality of being in union with the Triune God and His Body.

Bible Reading: Forty Eighth Time

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God. Col. 3:16

Today, on my forty-seventh birthday, and as I enter my forty-eighth year of my human life, the Lord graced me to complete my forty-eighth time of reading the Bible and start with my forty-ninth time as I have a goal of reading through the Bible at least a hundred time in my life time, if the  Lord gives me the grace. This is my personal goal, and it gives me immense joy to be able to read and read the word of God. To me, the only book worth reading again and again is the Bible. To me, the only time I feel must be spent at any cost is to read the Bible and spend time in prayer every day, even if it means doing it as a habit. Let it be a habit and be a part of my life. I reckon this is a good habit. God forbid, if I say, reading the Bible and prayer are the only things that must be done every day at all costs, even at the sacrifice of other things.

My prayer has been that the Lord would grace me day by day to be able to read the Bible with good eyesight; with a renewed mind filled with light, sight, vision, and revelation; and a strong spirit to absorb the word as spiritual nourishment. And that, no matter what my circumstances may be, the Lord may grace me with the reading of the Bible and prayer day by day. I cannot think of a life without the word of God and prayer. They have become a part and parcel of my life. I have been married to the word of God and prayer. I can't help but keep reading the Bible and pray. And it has been my joy and enjoyment day by day. I can sacrifice anything else in the world, but not my time with the Lord in prayer and the word of God. 

This also I wish that all my children, family members, saints in the church life, and for that matter, all the children of God should love the word of God and read it to be constituted with it, and be a man of prayer. To the extent that we all be living bibles and talking bibles for other to see and read the Bible. 

Having begun my forty-ninth time of reading the Bible, today morning I spent an hour on the word beginning from Genesis, the first ten chapters, and Matthew, the first three chapters.

May the Lord grace me with the taste and enjoyment of His word that I may read and eat the word of God every day, all the days of my life.