Burden of Blending

But our comely members have no need. But God has blended the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member that lacked, (1 Corinthians 12:24, RecVer)

The burden and vision of blending has been revealed time and again to the saints in the local churches in the Lord’s recovery. This burden has gradually been carried out in a way of learning by doing, step by step. I have been blessed to be one such brother to see this vision, receive this burden, and are now by the Lord’s mercy and grace, being brought to the blending life in the church life. I believe, this burden of blending is directly related to the burden of building as well. For the extend of building in the Body of Christ is determined by the extend of blending in the Body of Christ. Building and blending go together. In fact, in my experience, they are two sides of the same coin. These days, I have been blessed to be under the speaking of the Lord and receive much help concerning building and blending in the Body. All the fine details of blending that entails the dealing with the flesh, self, world, sins and sin are also being revealed and experienced day by day. I pray for the grace to experience the dealing for the blending in the Body. 

Oftentimes, like Gideon, I need proof of the Lord’s speaking and confirmation. The dream that confirmed Gideon's call was related to the round loaf of barley bread. This surely is a type of the blending required for the defeat of the enemy. Once we are blended in the Body, we are also victorious in the Body. Therefore, the enemy attacks anything related to the blending in the Body.

And when Gideon came, at that moment a man was recounting a dream to his companion; and he said, I have just had a dream. There was this round loaf of barley bread tumbling through the camp of Midian. And it came to the tent and struck it, so that it fell and turned upside down. And the tent collapsed. (Judges 7:13, RecVer)

However, once we are blended in the Body, we will know our God and thereby, take action.

And with his smooth words he will cause those who act wickedly toward the covenant to be profane. But the people who know their God will show strength and take action. (Daniel 11:32, RecVer)

The apostles in Acts 16 knew their God and proactively took action in their ministry journey. The Bible did not mention about the Holy Spirit speaking to them to take action or not. They simply took action as they knew their God! And, in the midst of their ministry journey, the Holy Spirit forbade them when it was not of the Lord. Otherwise, they proactively went ahead in their apostolic ministry journey. What a testimony! 

And they passed through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, yet the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. (Acts 16:6-7, RecVer)

For the blending, the word of God plays a pivotal role in the being of the believers. The word of God as grain to supply life, the word of God as fire to burn everything not of Christ, purifying and sanctifying, and the word of God as hammer to break the hardened heart and the outer man, is needed for the blending. All these are the experiences of the breaking of the cross which are possible only through the operation of the Holy Spirit are the need of the time. Blending is through the cross by the Spirit, dispensing the divine life to the one being blended.

The prophet who has a dream, let him tell the dream; and he with whom is My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the straw to the grain? declares Jehovah. Is not My word thus — like fire, declares Jehovah, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:28-29, RecVer)

Blending also eventually involves the turning of our hearts to the Lord. Yes, turning away from everything else to God and be brought into the Spirit. This is real blending. 

But whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:16-17, RecVer)

These experiences of blending may also be considered as the discipline of the Holy Spirit which may be painful now but it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

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 12:11, RecVer)

Therefore, day by day, we must practice blending in the Body wherever and with whomsoever the Lord has sovereignly placed us with. And the end result will be, the building up of the Body by being built up with the saints in one accord.

Practice these things; be in them, that your progress may be manifest to all. (1 Timothy 4:15, RecVer)

Lord, through Your cross by Your Spirit, through Your mercy and grace, blend me and build me up in Your Body. 

Shepherding: Restoring of the Soul

He restores my soul;He guides me on the paths of righteousness / For His name’s sake. (Psalms 23:3, RecVer)

In the first coming of the Lord Jesus, He accomplished redemption through His crucifixion and regenerated the many believers to be the organic members of the Body of Christ in His resurrection as prophesied in Psalms 22. In the second coming of Christ, Jesus will come as a King reigning in the Kingdom of God as prophesied in Psalms 24. In between the first and second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord is shepherding His many brothers in the church, especially in restoring their souls, and gradually transforming them to be spiritual men having the "mind of Christ" to express Him and represent Him on this earth today.

Jehovah as the Shepherd is shepherding all the children of God wherever they are. The effectiveness of the Lord’s shepherding depends on each one’s relationship with the Shepherd. Those who are open, simple, and pure would receive the Lord’s shepherding profitably.  Whereas, those who are rebellious will have a hard time getting through in their being. Nevertheless, the Lord is faithful to shepherd each one according to their conditions. Ultimately, the Lord will gain His built up Body among those who cooperated with Him to be shepherded and be overcomers to bring Him back in His second coming.

The Lord shepherds His sheep as the God of Abraham who supplies all the needs so they lack nothing. The Lord shepherds His sheep as the God of Isaac who lets His sheep lie down, rest, and blesses them with rich inheritance. The Lord shepherds His sheep as the God of Jacob who restores their souls even when they go through the valley of the shadow of death, He guides and protects them, makes them overcomers, and blesses them. As the Triune God, He shepherds the tripartite being of His sheep. In this way, bit by bit, day by day, restoring their souls, renewing their mind to be the mind of Christ and make them "spiritual man".

For who among men knows the things of man, except the spirit of man which is in him? In the same way, the things of God also no one has known except the Spirit of God. But we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is from God, that we may know the things which have been graciously given to us by God; Which things also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things with spiritual words. But a soulish man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he is not able to know them because they are discerned spiritually. But the spiritual man discerns all things, but he himself is discerned by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord and will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:11-16, RecVer)

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:5, RecVer)

The word of God plays a pivotal role in shepherding the souls of the saints. The word should become "flesh" in the being of the believers, even becoming them by being supplied with Spirit and life. Therefore, in the course of shepherding, feeding on the milk of the word is of utmost importance. This will issue in the growth in life, the gaining of the soul, the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls.

As newborn babes, long for the guileless milk of the word in order that by it you may grow unto salvation, (1 Peter 2:2, RecVer)

Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:9, RecVer)

But we are not of those who shrink back to ruin but of those who have faith to the gaining of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39, RecVer)

Thus, in Jehovah's shepherding as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the entire tripartite being of the saints will be gained to the extend of them becoming spiritual men having the mind of Christ to dwell in the house of Jehovah as the built up Body of Christ ushering in His coming again to bring in His kingdom on the earth.

Lord, shepherd us day by day, restore our souls.

Important Impromptu Improvising

It was the 15th of August when the country was celebrating its 78th Independence Day that we had an important impromptu improvising for one of the seminannual trainings we regularly conducted in NCR region. Since the venue we usually used was not available to us this time, we had to look for suitable places in Gurugram. Out of the two we found, one was selected for the venue though I personally felt that to have it in the other place owned by a Christian community would be better. But due to location and pricing, we had to settle for a community centre a week or so before we could actually carry out the training. In fact, a brother and I had gone to the other venue and negotiated for the price, but ultimately, we decided on the community center. For this, we also made many last minute arrangements and made the venue ready for the training.

However, on the morning of the august day of the 15th August, an important impromptu improvising was done. The venue was cancelled from our side due to "suspicion of sinister activity from the initiation of Satan". Though I had made a couple of trips to ferry the saints from the meeting hall to the said venue, they all ultimately had to come back due to sudden change of plan. All the saints cooperated and I did not hear one word of murmur or complaint. I believe, the Lord had made this change sovereignly to train us to practice the oneness and one accord among us. 

At the spur of the moment, we realised we had to make all the arrangements immediately. Therefore, all the saints coordinated to make all the necessary arrangements. Besides, 25 saints from Mathura came and accommodation had to be arranged. I thanked and praised the Lord for preserving us and also enabling us to host over a hundred saints for the three days of video training. From giving hospitality to adjusting to accommodate all the saints, the Lord graced us and enlarged our capacity. The training was conducted in three different rooms in the same building for three days! Despite the congestion in the rooms, the Lord headed up the entire training and led us through! 

This experience, to me, is a foretaste of what blessing the Lord would pour out in the church in Gurugram. It enlarged our capacity and also enlarged our hearts to a great extend. As we are being blended in the Body, whatever changes, the Lord was able to accomplish at any time. This experience, I call it a litmus test to our coordination. And the test is an important impromptu improvising. 

Pure Pressure

In the world, people have been influenced by their peers for good or for bad. Peer pressure is one directing force that affects people's behaviour. Evil companions do corrupt good moral. Likewise, good companions do correct evil manner.

In the church life, saints are my companions, especially, my brothers with whom I have been coordinating with for many practical and spiritual matters of the church. I definitely have been under pure pressure, in many cases. Often, I had my views on certain matters but I had been gradually adjusted by the pure pressure that emanates from my companion brothers. What a salvation! Where my shortages were, there, my companions filled the gaps. In this way, for a couple of things and decisions, I have been influenced by pure pressure. Thank God, its all for good! Hallelujah!

What a curse it could have been if there were no godly companions! What a shortage it could have been to act as a lone wolf! In the age of the Body, individual spiritual giant meant nothing to God nor to Satan. What a salvation to be in the companionship of the brothers in the church!

The past few days, we have had a good number of fellowships. A group of brothers were "brainstorming" in fellowship for the practical carrying out of the video training in Delhi or Gurugram. From taking decisions to taking actions, we all have learned to take the way of the Lord often practically directed by pure pressure from the brothers' fellowship. Step by step, the Lord trained us; adjusted us, and made us pliable, and all the while, blended us all together!

I believe, this is what it means to be blended in the Body. Of course, through the cross, by the Spirit, for the building up of the Body. 

Pure pressure for perfecting and building up in the Body, through the Body, and by the Body. 

Know God: Personal Relationship with God

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; And the peace of God, which surpasses every man’s understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, RecVer)

The Lord’s speaking these days have been to know Him in a subjective way; a way that is personal, private, intimate, and sweet fellowship with Him. In this way of experiencing the Lord, one can know God personally that will issue in the growth in life for the building of the Body corporately. In accordance with the Lord's up-to-date speaking, I have also been graced to experience Him in such a personal and intimate way.

God has sovereignly arranged matter after matter for me to consider before Him in prayer. In the past few weeks, I have had the blessing of bringing my personal matters to the Lord every night during my personal prayer time with Him. What an experience to converse with the Lord in a human level! I was graced and blessed to talk to him as friend with friend, or at times, as a son to his Father. Either way, I experienced much transaction with the Lord. In fact, every night, at least for one matter, I fellowshipped with the Lord. And through such fellowship, the Lord graced me the light to discern His will in those personal matters. Some of these seemed trivial, yet in all those small things I could experience the Lord. Some matters were as simple as when to apply for my daughter's further studies, when to visit Taiwan embassy, and when to apply for test etc. The weight of the matter is not the matter, but the weighty experiences of the Lord in such matters are what matters. I felt very blessed to be graced with so many transactions with the Lord. I believe, the Lord has worked Himself into me much these days. I myself could sense the changes transpiring within me. O what a blessing to know God in such an experiential way!

The Lord knows best for the outward result of all these matters I brought to Him in prayers. No matter what the outcome may be, I actually have already got the results to all the matters I brought to Him in prayers. Or put it simply, the answers to my prayers were the experiences of God in and through those prayers. I had hundreds of conversations with the Lord, one on one. I believe, it will be thousands and ten thousands conversations with the Lord gradually.

This is what it means to know God; the experience of God, the enjoyment of God, and the possession of God, which will ultimately issue in the expression of God! Hallelujah! What a blessed Christian life to know God in such an experiential way!

Having tasted the sweetness of such fellowship with the Lord, I treasure my personal time with the Lord very much these days. In fact, I cannot live without it. Though I have been pursuing the Lord through my daily Bible reading, truth pursuing, corporate pursuing, etc., I cannot pass my day without spending adequate time with the Lord in prayer. This reminds me of a hymn by Fanny Jane Crosby (Hymns 387):

O the pure delight of a single hour

That before Thy throne I spend,

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,

I commune as friend with friend!

Lord, cause me and all the saints to know You more and more each day. Yes, know You personally, intimately, privately, and sweetly too!

A Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare has been waging throughout the ages between God and Satan with man in between. Though God is the guaranteed Winner, Satan seems to win now and then depending on whose side man takes side with. This has been a normal experience of every normal Christian. Therefore, the experience of victory truly depends on taking side with the victorious God in Christ the Victor.

It has always been my prayer and burden that all the young people be consecrated to the Lord Jesus and be gained by Him for Him. In particular, my burden has been that the graduating college students be shepherded to join the two years full-time training. The Lord has faithfully been answering this prayer and the burden of the church since the very beginning of the church life in Gurugram. Even when we had no college students to send to the training, some from other localities would be supported by the church here. In the recent past, the Lord has recovered and shepherded the young ones in the church life to join the training.

The past few weeks, we had experienced an intense battle of fighting for one brother who wanted to join the training. Though he had been shepherded in this direction he had went through a lot of inward struggles. Until the due date, he still was indecisive concerning joining the training. Even when he decided to join the training finally, he faced some huge hurdles, mostly related to himself. I reckoned this as a part of Satan's strategy to stop him from joining the training.

First, he had a serious health issue which was eventually resolved. Then, a relationship issue, which also was resolved after much, thorough, and serious fellowship. Then, his education of not yet graduating fully became another hurdle. Inspite of all theses issues, the Lord’s mercy was bountiful upon him. All these hurdles could either disqualify him or discourage him from joining the training. In fact, the mood was such; join or don't join or postpone.

Meanwhile, the church prayed strongly and I believe, he and his own family also prayed fervently and desperately. The Lord graced him and us to overcome all these hurdles, one at a time. It was an intense spiritual battle indeed. Even while I was in the USA, I had to deal with this matter in fellowship with the brothers concerning his existing relationship with a classmate, and then, his having back papers in his studies, which prompted a switch to short term training. Every obstacle was overcome and finally he was cleared to go after his application form was submitted. After all these, we all thought the matter was done.

However, on the day he went to join the training he was sent back home to our shocking surprise. Then, we had a couple of rounds of urgent, immediate, and impromptu fellowships to deal with the "rejection." Some misunderstandings crept in, the family was very disappointed, some murmurings were heard, and we had to really exercise our spirit to handle the situation. The Lord was gracious. He used this situation to let us know that we were in a spiritual warfare and we should not take the matter lightly, but in prayers and petition with thanksgiving. Finally, the misunderstanding was chalked out, apologies and clarifications were done, and he eventually was bale to join the training.

Oh what a rough ride we had to send one brother to join the training! Despite the hurdles, I worshipped the ways of God. He used theses "afflictions" to temper each one involved in sending him to the training. First, he himself realised that he desperately needed the Lord’s mercy and grace to be able to join the training. Initially, he took it lightly and took things for granted. The Lord adjusted him. His family also took it for granted, so the Lord showed them that they too need to pay the price of sending their son to the training center. And, we brothers also realised that we must always be on the alert and be warfare-ready for any matter in the church or concerning our spiritual life.

The Lord, the Sovereign One, has led all of  us through, step by step, in matters pertaining to His move on the earth. We have learned, and are learning, and will be learning many spiritual lessons. Yes, learning and learning, all for the fulfillment of His divine economy. 

Jesus is Lord! Christ is the Victor!

Church Life in One Accord

In order to practice the church life in one accord, there are crucial matters that need to be seriously considered and practiced. I was enlightened freshly as I had a time of morning revival with brother on this point of one accord. 

Seeing the One All-inclusive Vision: The Vision of Christ and the Church

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; / But happy is he who keeps the law. (Proverbs 29:18, RecVer)

Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, (Acts 26:19, RecVer)

The disciples witnessed the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. This vision of the all-inclusive Christ burdened them to come together and pray in one accord. Because of this vision, they were able to deny their self, give up the world, their background, and could be blended as one, even to pray with fasting for ten days, which ushered in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

Praying in One Accord

These all continued steadfastly with one accord in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (Acts 1:14, RecVer)

Day by day, we all must be governed by this one vision of Christ as Paul saw along with the vision of the Body of Christ in Acts 9.  This is the motivating factor for continuing steadfastly in one accord.

Pursuing the Apostles' Teaching

And they continued steadfastly in the teaching and the fellowship of the apostles, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42

The issue of the one accord led disciples to the practice of the church life, meeting from house to house. Therefore, the pursuit of the Apostles' teaching must be daily; reading the Bible, being revived through the ministry of the word, and pursuing the ministry in the form of Life-studies and the ministry books. For this, a price needs to be paid.

Practicing the Oneness: Meeting

 

As children of God, all genuine believers are one in the Spirit and also one in the universal Body of Christ. This oneness must also be practiced in each locality by gathering together as the local churches on the ground of oneness. Therefore, it is important to meet as the church in the name of the Lord Jesus. Besides, the practical oneness in our inward being must also be prayed for and realised.

Practicing the Oneness: In Harmony

These all continued steadfastly with one accord in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (Acts 1:14, RecVer)

Again, truly I say to you that if two of you are in harmony on earth concerning any matter for which they ask, it will be done for them from My Father who is in the heavens. Matthew 18:19

One accord refers to the harmony in our inner being. The Greek word homothumadon, homo (same) and thumos (mind, will, purpose), denotes a harmony of inward feeling in one's entire being. This is a crucial and deep experience.

Practicing the Oneness: One Spirit With One Soul

Only, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether coming and seeing you or being absent, I may hear of the things concerning you, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving together along with the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27, RecVer)

Make my joy full, that you think the same thing, having the same love, joined in soul, thinking the one thing. (Philippians 2:2, RecVer)

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5, RecVer).

I exhort Euodias, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same thing in the Lord. (Philippians 4:2, RecVer)

We should think with the mind of Christ and speak with the mouth of Christ, the Head. In this way, we will think the same thing and speak the same thing. The only way to do this is by allowing Christ to make His home in our hearts. For this, we need to have a personal relationship with the Lord. Our heart has a lot of things in it. It must be dealt with and allow Christ to make His home. Christ must have access to our hearts. In this way, we will be saturated with Christ in our inward being, especially, our soul. In addition to knowing Christ, we must also have the subjective experience and enjoyment of Christ. Then, we will be attuned in the same mind and in the same opinion as Christ would be our person, our life, and our living.

Now I beseech you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be attuned in the same mind and in the same opinion. 1 Corinthians 1:10

Practicing the Oneness: One Heart and One Way

And I will give them one heart and one way, to fear Me all the days, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. (Jeremiah 32:39, RecVer)

One heart to love God, to seek God, to live God, and to be constituted with God for one expression, and one way, the inner law of life, are required for the one accord.

Practicing the Oneness: One Scale in the Church Life 

You shall not have in your bag differing weights, one heavy and one light. You shall not have in your house differing measures, one large and one small. A full and righteous weight you shall have, and a full and righteous measure you shall have, in order that your days may be extended upon the land which Jehovah your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 25:13-15, RecVer)

There should just be one scale to measure myself and others. What I condemn in myself must also be condemned in others, maintaining the one scale. Better not to have any scale, neither for myself nor for others. Only God can judge righteously. Leave every measurement to God. 

Practicing the Oneness: Small Vital Group Living

In practice, the oneness can be realized in the small group meeting of the saints where all the saints are living and functioning.

Small Group meeting and living functions:

1. Retain the existing saints 
2. Recover the dormant saints
3. Reach out to the new ones by preaching the gospel

The Small Group meeting was invented by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. The believers met from house to house.

And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of their food with exultation and simplicity of heart. (Acts 2:46, RecVer)

Five advantages of the small group meetings are:

• It allows the Holy Spirit to move in us.
• It allows the saints to know and care for one another.
• It allows the grace the saints have to be developed.
• It allows everyone to function.
• It allows everyone to lead someone to the Lord and to the church. 

And He appointed twelve, whom He also named apostles, so that they might be with Him and that He might send them to preach And to have the authority to cast out the demons. (Mark 3:14-15, RecVer)

Therefore, this practice of church life in one accord will command the Lord's blessing. For this, we should all voice the same thing, trumpet the same thing, teach the same thing, and be in the same practice.

Lord, gain our one accord and bless Your church!