Life Lesson: Proper Humanity

Proper humanity is needed to serve the Lord to bear fruit unto Him. Otherwise, our life and living would not be a testimony to others, much less, to the Lord. The proper humanity we need is the humanity of Jesus. 

Humanity of Jesus 

Let no one despise your youth, but be a pattern to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12, RecVer)

But you, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, meekness. Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold on the eternal life, to which you were called and have confessed the good confession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12, RecVer)

But you have closely followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings, such as befell me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra. Such persecutions I bore, and out of them all the Lord delivered me. (2 Timothy 3:10-11, RecVer)

Right Toward God

Always rejoice, Unceasingly pray, In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit; Do not despise prophecies, But prove all things. Hold fast to what is good; Abstain from every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, RecVer)

Because of this I also exercise myself to always have a conscience without offense toward God and men. (Acts 24:16, RecVer)

Having Peace with Man

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with all men. (Romans 12:18, RecVer)

I desire therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and reasoning; (1 Timothy 2:8, RecVer)

With this proper humanity, we can be in the one flow of the one work of God. However, the reality of possessing the humanity of Jesus, being right toward God and man, and having peace with God and man is Christ's life becoming our living as Paul testified in Philippians 1:21, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 

All the problems faced in the church life, Christian life, and even in the service are all related to humanity. Or put it simply, the character of a person determines what kind of service he will provide. For this very reason, I have had three important fellowships with some serving brothers this month alone. 

The first case being, the complaints against a serving one that did not match the expectation of the complainant. Well, the burden he had was good, and I appreciated it. However, not everyone has the same burden nor the same capacity nor the same family situation. The exceptionally good ones have the tendency to expose the ones below their standards. This is a natural phenomenon. Well, I in no way justify the shortcomings of the ones below standard, nor do I glorify the ones up to the standard. While I would help the ones below standard to improve, I will also tamper the ones up to standard to not expose the others. In fact, both need shepherding and be perfected to function in coordination. 

The second case was an issue related to his family having an issue with another family. The matter was concerning the Lord’s testimony in their local church related to their family matters. Since the church has been handling the matter and it was just brought to our notice, nothing needs to be done further. What needs to be done has been done. Matters like this can only be prayed for and left to the church. We are in the Body, and what the Body decided was what we decided too. 

The third case was a fellowship with three serving brothers related to their official service. I only fellowshipped them in a way of shepherding, not at all in a way of instruction or command. I considered them as my own coordinating brothers and that we serve together in the Body for the one goal. While exhorting them to be faithful in their service, I gave a testimony of my own, how I exercised myself to be faithful in my service in all possible ways, citing the works the Lord accomplished through the recent distribution trip. I even gave them weekly goals to accomplish. 

With these cases, it was clear that all the shortcomings in our services or our living boil down to our humanity. No wonder, Paul charged his spiritual son, Timothy, to be a pattern and not allow anyone to despise his youth, to be a man of God, following the ministry, to be right with God and man, and to have peace with God and man. 

The realistic way is to deny ourselves, take up the cross to deal with every negative thing in our lives, and follow the Lord Jesus by living and walking according to the Spirit Who is in our spirit. For this, a regular, scheduled prayer life, a life filled with the Spirit and the word, is needed.  

May the Lord grace me and all my fellow serving ones to live such a God-man life, with a proper humanity of Jesus, to carry out His eternal purpose in the earth.

Shepherding Visitations

Last Lord’s Day afternoon, the 24th of August, I got free time after the Lord’s rich speaking and shining. Initially, it was planned for a visit to a brother's family. However, the Lord’s had a better plan. 

I got to visit a brother who was once my teacher in my college and who was instrumental in shepherding me into the church life in the Lord’s recovery. For about two solid hours we had a time of conversation and fellowship. It was a very normal brotherly fellowship. The content of our fellowship was on what the Lord has done and has been doing in my life. I testified of what the Lord has been doing in India especially through the literature service since I am directly involved in this service and could give a first hand experiences and enjoyment of the Lord. As the fellowship came to a conclusion, he asked me to pray and therefore, I prayed for the whole family especially for the Lord’s shepherding for the restoration of their souls and also for the Lord’s blessing upon his family.

Then, I spent a time of fellowship with a brother seving in the literature service concerning the way to take to improve our efficiency and standard of service.

Following this, we both went to visit a couple, Uncle and Aunty, who were my guardian when I was a student twenty five years ago. As usual, they fed us with a rich lovefeast and then a time of fellowship on the word of God.

This time, I fellowshipped on the Lord’s shepherding in Psalms 23 as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I emphasised on the restoration of our souls through the Lord’s shepherding which resulted in dwelling in the house of Jehovah for the length of my days; in this age, the coming kingdom age, and in the New Jerusalem. And concluded the meeting with prayer for Uncle and Aunty,  which was followed by Uncle praying for me and blessing me.

Thus, the Lord as my Shepherd shepherded me even through this shepherding visitations to my ex-teacher and ex-guardian. 

May the Lord bless them with good health and long life with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

Jehovah is my Shepherd; I will lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; 

He leads me beside waters of rest. He restores my soul;He guides me on the paths of righteousness 

For His name’s sake. Even though I walk 

Through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I do not fear evil, 

For You are with me; 

Your rod and Your staff, 

They comfort me. You spread a table before me 

In the presence of my adversaries; 

You anoint my head with oil; 

My cup runs over. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me 

All the days of my life, 

And I will dwell in the house of Jehovah 

For the length of my days. 

(Psalms 23, RecVer)

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.