The Burden and Blessing of Building and Blending in the Body

Since last Friday, 22 August till today, 27 August, we have been under God’s speaking and shining through an elderly and mature brother. To me, I reckon this experience of being under the Lord’s shining light as my spiritual healh checkup undergoing an MRI scan in God’s operation theater. The burden released on the first three days was on the building up of the Body of Christ and the last three days was on the blending in the Body of Christ. When I shared at the last session, I summarized the six days fellowship in one sentence, "The Burden and Blessing of Building and Blending in the Body."

The burden began with a question on whether it was easy to build up the Body of Christ. Having gone through the process of building in the local churches, none including me dared say, it was easy. We all resonated with one answer on the difficulty of building, if not impossible. However, through the two and a half days of fellowship, the Lord's speaking sent forth light from Psalms 23. We could now see the Lord’s shepherding as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, particularly with the life of Jacob being transformed to become Israel, though with much dealings. In like manner, the building work is dependent on our person being dealt with. Since the dealing takes time, and oftentimes, undergoes a lot of sufferings and trials, we find it naturally difficult to build the church, if not, impossible. But, God could transformed Jacob to Israel, so He can deal with us to build up the church. So, with God, it is possible and easy to build the church.

Personally, I could relate myself with the change of names from Jacob to Israel. 

And He said to him, What is your name? And he said, Jacob. And He said, Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed. (Genesis 32:27-28, RecVer)

Jacob's name was changed in Genesis 32 at Peniel. However, Jacob was still called Jacob despite the change of name. But after Jacob had undergone more dealings by experiencing the hand of God in a deeper way after losing whom he loved so much, Rachel, and the helper of whom he loved, Deborah, and the one who loved him even blindly, his father Isaac, his name was in reality changed to Israel.

And God said to him,Your name is Jacob; / Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, / But Israel shall be your name.Thus He called his name Israel. (Genesis 35:10, RecVer)

In the same principle, the revelation of building has been shown first and then the reality of building follows. Jacob first saw the vision of God’s building in Genesis 28:12, however the actual fulfilment of this dream physically was much later on when Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem,  and today it is the building up of the church, the Body of Christ.

And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. (Genesis 28:12, RecVer)

In my experience too, the revelation of truth generally comes first and later, the experience followed. This is the case with the building of the Body too. Since Joshua and Caleb could enter the good land, it is possible for us to build up the Body too. Of course, there are many fine points on the building that touches my being. I must then allow the Lord to work in me deeply day by day until I am fully built up and build up the local church in my locality. 

The burden on the blending was touched on the last two and half days of the fellowship. This blending is directly related with the building, the two goes hand in hand. The dealings and learnings of the two are similar in nature. Both entails the restorating of our souls, the gaining of our souls, the growth in life, and the transformation by the Triune God's shepherding as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Besides, our human cooperation of being open to the Lord and one another, being under the supply of the word of God, and being under the Lord’s perfecting training and speaking with His light shining dispelling all the darkness in our inward being are needed for the genuine blending in the Body. In this way, there will be the necessary purifying, sanctifying, and killing of the self, ambition, and pride. Which will result in our hearts being enlarged and our hearts being turned to the Lord, leading us to the Spirit. In this way, there will be the blending among the saints. Yes, much blending in the Body. 

The past six days have really been a merciful spiritual health checkup session. What a blessing! What a grace! 

Lord, thank you for the burden and blessing of building and blending in the Body! 

May the Lord grace me to be perfected to be blendable, to be able to blend others, and also to be blended with the brothers. And may the Lord also grace me to be builded up in the Body and build up His Body.

Ministry of the Word to Maddur, Mandya, Ramnagar, and Bengaluru

On the third day and the last day in this ministry literature journey, we started early at about 8 AM and came back past midnight after visiting four localities. The Lord led us city by city and we could meet the Christian leaders and seekers in their respective places.

In Maddur, we were led to present the ministry literature to a group of Pastors who also bought the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada. Though it was an impromptu visit, the Lord opened the hearts of the believers to receive us and the ministry.

One significant meeting was in Mandya where we met a brother who is also a professor of Computer Science in a private university. Since our time was tight as we intended to cover more cities and yet this professor was busy at his university, so we decided to enjoy our lunch first, a very sumptuous meal of mutton, chicken, and fish. This was the Lord’s shepherding too. Then, when we met the professor for a few minutes on the roadside, he immediately was attracted by the ministry books. He immediately purchased the Holy Bible Recovery Version in English and all the printed English title books of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee we have in stock along with the Kannada New Testament Recovery Version! The Lord just touched him through the ministry and he bought all the minustry books we introduced to him. That too, on the roadside, just for a few minutes. Besides, he being a professor ministering among 200 Engineering students in different universities, 200 copies of A&C Faith journals were also sent to him. 

Additionally, we also met a Christian brother who has been persecuted yet having full of burden for the gospel. He was also so impressed by the truth that he purchased it immediately. Though he was not financially sound, he still paid the price to buy with whatever he had then. It was of the Lord that we could meet such brother whom the Lord has prepared for His move in Karnataka. 

Lord, bless Your move in Karnataka, even through this ministry journey, and the availability of the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada!

Ministry of the Word to Doddaballapur, Nelamangala, and Channapatna

The Lord led us to meet the key Christian leader in the city. Initially, for clarification, he asked a lot of questions. Upon answering his queries, he welcomed us to meet with him face to face. Once we arrived at his house, we introduced the Recovery Version Bible. Right away, he was convinced that this is the Bible he need despite the many versions of Bible he already has, because, the Lord led us to show to him some crucial verses along with their profound corresponding footnotes. One key points that attracted him was how the Bible interpretes the Bible and how we need to learn from the revelations God revealed to His children throughout the past twenty centuries, and those key revelations have been incorporated in the footnotes as study-aid for all lovers and seekers of the Lord Jesus in His word. Having been so impressed by the presentation of the truth, he proposed if we could visit the city again for a meeting with the Christian leaders for the introduction of the ministry literature. To this, our reply was, as the Lord leads and according to the need, we can could consider. We opened ourselves and told that we were open, as the Lord leads.

We also met with a brother who has been serving as a missionary among the local people in the remote area. He invited us to attend the Pastors' fellowship for the introduction of the minsitry books.

Lord, bless Your move in Karnataka, even through this ministry journey, and the availability of the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada!

Ministry of the Word to Chikkaballapur, Gauribidanur, and Tumkur

With the burden to introduce and distribute the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada, I set out with the brothers in Bengaluru to nearby localities. As usual, we met the key Christian leaders in each city. 

Our first stop was in Chikkaballapur where we met a couple of young brothers who serves the Lord in the villages. All that we did was simply introduce the ministry by introducing the Kannada New Testament Recovery Version. Some selected verses and footnotes were sufficient to minister to them the word and then, we all prayed together.

A young couple who have been married for a couple of years and were barren requested desperately for prayer which we did by faith. May the Lord blessed them with children.

A young brother who is also a father of two children and serving full-time had the burden to accompany us to visit the nearby cities. I took that opportunity in the car while on the road to minister to him the truth concerning Christ and the church. He also shared his testimony of salvation as we drove through the highway where he met with an accident and that changed his life and saved him physically and spiritually. In this way, the Lord led us to propagate the ministry in the remote places of Karnataka. 

In Gauribidanur, we met the President of the Pastors' association and introduced the ministry books. He was so attracted by the truth and immediately purchased the Kannada New Testament Recovery Version. He also picked up the burden to introduce to other Christian leaders we could not meet then. In this way, we sowed the seeds of the ministry in this part of Karnataka, trusting the Lord that it will bear forth fruits one day.

As we were fellowshipping. I was deeply burdened by the Lord to visit Tumkur. Though this city was not in the list porposed for distribution, I insisted that somehow we should visit this city. However, no phone call of the contactswe had replied until one call confirmed that we could visit. Therefore, we visited Tumkur and met with a middle aged brother who welcomed us and we ended fellowshipping with him for over three hours. 

Our main content of the fellowship was on the truth, by first introducing the Recovery Version Bible and then some other ministry books by Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. The fellowship was so anointed that we could literally enjoy the flow of life among us. The Lord’s presence was richly with us. Over a cup of coffee and snacks, we had a brotherly fellowship on the truth concerning the church, the Spirit in John 7, and Tabernacle with its contents contrasting Exodus 26:33-35 and Hebrews 9:4. The Lord blessed the fellowship so much so that we became brotherly one with one another in the truth, and the brother purchased a good number of ministry books on the church that I suggested in addition to what he chose. Having been so impressed by the presentation of the truth, he even proposed if we could visit the city again for a meeting with the Christian leaders for the introduction of the ministry literature and also for the edification of the Christians,  especially the leading ones. To this, our reply was, as the Lord leads and according to the need, we can could consider. We opened ourselves and told that we are open, as the Lord leads.

In fact, our fellowship went until 9:30 PM, in the night, and when we got back to our lodging place, it was almost 2 AM the next day.

Lord, bless Your move in Karnataka, even through this ministry journey, and the availability of the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada!

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.