Ministry of the Word to Kalaburagi and Shahapur

Having released the burden of the distribution in Bidar, we came down south to the next city, Kalaburagi. The initial plan was that we spend more time in this city as we considered to meet different Pastors at different places. The local broher who led us did not have a good experience in this city in his previous visit. So he allotted more time. However, as we arrived the city and contacted the Pastor in correspondence, he invited us to join the Pastors' fellowship going at his residence and introduce the ministry literature. This was not at all expected. But the Lord made all the plan ready.

I was given just fifteen minutes to introduce the ministry literature to the Pastors with translation to Kannada. Prior to this, a brother who accompanied us in this trip requested if I could speak again on the "wife of Uriah" in Matthew 1:6 with its spiritual significances as he was so much supplied by the revelation he received in my introduction in the precious city, Aurad. I took that as an indication of what I should speak. Therefore, when I introduced the New Testament Recovery Version, I used the note on "wife of Uriah" as a study aid along with other notes in Matthew 1. By the way, the brother who requested me for using this note came and sat in the front row and recorded my introduction of the Recovery Version. The Lord anointed the speaking so much so that it beame a ministering of the word of God to all the audience. The Pastors were very much touched by the ministry of the word and right after I introduced, each one of them wanted the Recovery Version New Testament in Kannada along with the seven Kannada title books. One entire box of New Testament (16) copies was sold out along with all the sets of Kannada books too. I even had to request a brother to get back one set of title books for sample to be shown in the upcoming distribution trip in other cities and towns.. 

The Lord blessed the distribution so much so that, beyond our expectation, one big city was covered in fifteen minutes! Of course, after the introduction, it took some time to settle the sales order

Then, we proceed further south to the next city, Shahapur. We arrived this place about two hours earlier than the scheduled time due to the quick accomplishment in the previous city. This gave me time to read my Bible and get some rest before we began the next meeting.

When the Pastors arrived at the appointment place and time, I was praying what to minister. Following the Lord's leading, I gave a gist of the church history,  how God used different people at different times to give revelation on some crucial truth in the Bible. For example, justification by faith through Martin Luther, sanctification through John Wesley, and narrated the beginning of the Baptist and Pentecostal movement. Then, I used Matthew 1:17 with the footnotes as a demonstration on how the Recovery Version can be an excellent study aid in studying the Bible. 

Thus all the generations from Abraham until David are fourteen generations, and from David until the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon until the Christ, fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:17, RecVer)

The three fourteen-generations totalling forty-two generation with its spiritual significance was amazing! The Recovery Version has expounded it in detail!

After the introduction, all the Pastors present in the meeting immediately purchased a copy of the New Testament Recovery Version with full payment. They gave a word to pass on the availability of such a wonderful study Bible in Kannada language to their Pastors as well. Thus, our burden for this city was also released. Then, we moved on to the next city. 

With the sowing of the seed of the ministry of the word, the Lord will let these seeds fall into the good soil and one day, we will reap the harvest. 

May the Lord reviver His remnants in thses cities and raise up His lampshades in Kalaburagi and Shahapur!

Ministry of the Word to Bidar and Aurad

Thus says Jehovah, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel, I am Jehovah your God, Who teaches you to do that which is profitable, Who leads you in the way that you should go. (Isaiah 48:17, RecVer)

Come out from Babylon; Flee from the Chaldeans; With a voice of shouting declare; Let them hear this, Send it out unto the end of the earth; Say, Jehovah has redeemed His servant Jacob. (Isaiah 48:20, RecVer)

Having heard about Bidar many years ago, it has been in my heart that one day I could visit this district for the ministry literature distribution. This time, the Lord made it possible. After flying from Delhi to Hyderabad and an early morning train from Secunderabad to Bidar, I finally got to visit this district. The plan this time was to cover the northern parts of Karnataka, and with this trip, to cover the entire state of Karnataka, at least the districts and main cities and towns. I was given warm hospitality in a brother's house.

On our first visit to a group of Methodist's serving ones, the key leader did not welcome us and sternly refused to even hear us out. As a brother was talking to him for a time of fellowship to introduce the ministry literature, I was actually reading my Bible. Interestingly, the verses I read from Isaiah 48:17, 20 just confirmed my brother's whispering to my ears that the leader refused to hear us out. Jehovah was teaching me to do what was profitable and "come out of Babylon." Immediately, I realised we had to leave. There was no point trying to forcibly present the ministry to those who were not willing to receive. So, we left immediately without wasting any time. 

Then, we got an urgent appointment from a Pastor who was about to leave for another city. In fact, the Lord led us out of the first closed door to move on to the next open door, at the right time, lest we miss both. Since the Pastor was getting ready to leave, I immediately introduced the ministry books one by one, starting from the Holy Bible Recovery Version. Within a few minutes of presenting the ministry, the Pastor and his wife decided to purchase all the ministry books in Kannada, the New Testament in Kannada, and also the Holy Bible Recovery Version in English. Later, we also presented the ministry literature to a group of Christians in another location. While other Pastors in town were not available to meet, I had a time of fellowship with the brothers who were accompanying me this time for the distribution. The Lord also arranged the situation in such a way that I got time for rest, as I did not sleep enough the previous night due to my travel.

In Aurad, the following day, we met at a meeting hall of a Pastor where eight different Pastors of different Christian groups came together to pay heed to us. I simply followed the Spirit's leading inwardly, and began with the importance of the word of God in our Christian life, using 2 Timothy 3:16, and the need to understand the Scriptures with someone's help, as in the case of an Ethiopian eunuch with Philip in Acts 8. And then, I introduced the Recovery Version Bible and the ministry books using Matthew 1:1, 6, and the corresponding footnotes on "the son of David" and “David begot Solomon of her who had been the wife of Uriah" The Lord anointed the speaking and opened up the Scriptures to the Pastors as I also emphasised the need for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17, 18) and the opening of the word (Psalms 119: 130).

The result was, every one of them was richly supplied with the word of God, and each one of them purchased the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada and the seven title books in Kannada. This was the work of the Lord sowing Himself as the seed through the ministry of the word. One day, the Lord will recover His remnants to bear His testimony in Aurad.

By the way, as we were traveling by car, I had a time of fellowship with a brother on the four pillars needed to live a healthy Christian life for the church life: the need for daily morning revival, daily reading of the Bible, daily prayer, and daily practical church life. In this way, the days in Bidar were well spent. 

May the Lord raise up His testimony in Bidar and Aurad soon!

Experience of Christ: The Spirit of Jesus

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)

By virtue of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has been given to us (Acts 5:32) inwardly on the day of our spiritual birth. Since then, this Spirit of Jesus or the Holy Spirit has been leading us day by day provided one pays heed to His leading. It is now the responsibility of every believer to live and walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25).

As such a one learning to live and walk by the Spirit, I have been experiencing the Spirit's leading either in going ahead or in being forbidden. As Christians, we have to proactively take actions according to the light of God’s word. Should the Spirit forbade us, then we should immediately take action to stop going any further. Otherwise, as the peace of God abides within, we must proactively carry out God’s commission.

In a number of cases, I have been restricted in my spirit and forbidden to go ahead with what I initially planned to do. In fear and trembling before God, I would check every matter before moving ahead. This practice helped me spent more time to pray over matters that concerned me. Be it considering my brothers' fellowship on joining a National College Students training, or consulting brothers for official matters, or approving a huge amount of money for construction of distribution books storeroom, or planning for a distribution trip to Karnataka, or even applying credit card for paying my daughter's admission application fee online, or even trivial matters like cutting hair or buying household items, and many other matters too. The Spirit's forbidding and allowing, toggling between a "yes" or a "no", has been my constant experience. I believe, I am being trained to follow the Spirit succinctly. In many cases, I had to change my own initial plan and thought. What my natural man thought initially, when proven to be not of the Spirit, I changed. In this way, the Lord trained me to follow him and experience the Spirit's leading step by step. This reminds me of the Lord’s words to Simon, son of John.

Truly, truly, I say to you, When you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go. (John 21:18, RecVer)

I am glad that I have been led by the Lord through the saints surrounding me, my brothers in the church, my family members, and even my circumstances. I am learning to be pliable, to be sorber minded, and not to be rebellious or disobedient in any way. I fear God and even more fearful to grieve the Holy Spirit. The peace of God in everything I decided to do is of utmost importance to me. In this way, I learned to experience the Spirit of Jesus.

A Christian life is a life of experiencing the Spirit of Jesus, in many cases, of forbidding. What a blessing it is to be forbidden when not in the perfect will of the Lord! What a salvation!

God's Gospel Move

And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer. (Revelation of John 6:2, RecVer)

The Lord in His sovereignty has done a complete overhaul in the way we carry out the gospel move in our locality these days. With the changing political and religious atmosphere, the Lord also moves ahead in leading us to take ways conducive to His move despite the outward restrictions and risks. All for the preparation of His coming again and perfecting us to be His mature Bride. One thing is sure, no one can stop the Lord’s gospel move. Bills may be passed, laws may be enacted, leaders may change, but Jesus remains the same; He is the Lord over all!

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)

In God’s gospel move in our church life, we brothers have been praying together as much as we can, and more brothers have been gathered together every Saturday afternoon for prayer, pray-reading, and practical service fellowship. Besides all these initiatives from our side, we also made significant improvement in the way we carry out the shepherding of the saints and the new ones.

Organic systematization of the small group meetings

Since the last full-time training, we have organically systematised the way we carry out the small group meetings. We have now been practising cherishing one another in the exercise of the divine love in caring for every member of the small group, praying for one another's specific and timely needs in a human yet divine way. At the same time, supplying the nourishing needed with the word of God as the divine light to shine on each one. And ushering each member into their organic functions to carry out the divine will, the universal priesthood of every member functioning to build up the Body of Christ. This new practice has revived the small group meetings!

Similarly with the small groups in the new ones' homes, we carrying out the same. So, far, five small groups have been regularly functioning each week with more and more saints participating and functioning. According to the need of the saints, we pursue different ministry materials; Life Lessons, Life-studies, and Shepherding Materials. Thank the Lord for this new way.

Besides, I personally also started a home meeting with a young brother, reading the Bible together with the help of study notes, testimonies, and prayers.

The Lord also opened new doors in our area for the gospel move through our children's classmate's and their families.

Outward situations may go on according to the trend of the world. Perhaps, it may worsen by the day, but God's gospel move cannot be stopped. In fact, God’s move also is intensifying against the tide!

What a blessing to live in this time of the age! God’s move is being intensified at the toughest time, and how blessed are we to be a part of this blessed move. Outward restriction draws out inward revival.

Praise the Lord for God’s gospel move! What a privilege to be a part of God’s gospel move! 

Experiences of Christ: Parental Shepherding

The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah. (Proverbs 16:1, RecVer)

As our heavenly Father cares for us, His children, we, as human parents, also care for our chidren. This is the principle of incarnation; being human yet divine, caring for our children's well being as God would, is a fundamental duty of parent. 

Since last year, the Lord gave us a burden for our children's education academically and also spiritually. As a father and a husband, I have fellowshipped my burden to my wife and she has the same mind as mine, to send our children abroad to their place of birth Taiwan, especially, Taipei for their collegee education and spiritual education by being in the  students' centre iverseen by the saints, in the principle of sisters and brothers' houses. Gradually, things became clear as to what we should do; to apply for university study in Taiwan beginning with our eldest daughter as a pioneer in our family. The Lord, since then, has been leading us step by step. It has truly been mysterious yet marvelous in the experiences He has been giving us all this while.

Since the beginning of last month, we started the application process in Nation Taiwan University (NTU). To my utter surprise, it has so much steps even just for an application to complete. Altogether, from the beginning of the process still submission for admission, we have been through twelve crucial steps. Each step of the process has taught us important spiritual lessons. The experiences of Christ and the gaining of Christ in each step have already been very rewarding and its worth the price we paid. No matter what the result would be, we have already gained Christ through the processes!

First, there was the verification process by Taiwan embassy for qualification of our children being overseas Chinese residing in India for a considerable period of time. That it self took over a month to get the final verification and passport stamping.

Second, the learning of Chinese language; reading, listening, understanding, and so forth. My wife and daughter had spent a considerable hours of studies and preparation.

Third, a Chinese language test was conducted by the education department of Taiwan embassy. The Lord led us through and our daughter cleared the exam at level higer than the required qualification. This too, at the right time for it took a couple of months to get the result.

Fourth, there was the need for the school registration to the NTU system for recommendation of qualified students. This required us to approach the Principal of the school and class teacher. It took over a few weeks for approval itself. We went through a period of prayers.

Fifth, the school's recommendation along with the Principal and a particular class teacher's recommendations, which they all coordinated, were issued, scanned, and uploaded. 

Sixth, a email was received from NTU after their approval of the school. The email receiving was delayed for some technical reason and we finally got through this.

Seventh, an enrollment certificate was required to prove that the student is a bona fide student of a school aling with a transcript marks of the students from grade 10, 11, and 12 to prove the academic credentials of the student. 

Eight, these certificate and transcription marks have to be authenticated by the Taiwan embassy. This process was even more complicated. This itself has four levels of authentication. First, from the school with stamp and signature; second, from the state education department with stamp and signature; third, from the ministry of external affairs of the central government. Then and only then, Taiwan embassy did the final authentication.

Only this eighth step took was at least two weeks to complete these processes. Personally, I and my wife went to the school for help when I was directed to approach the department of education directly, which I did so, yet to no avail, as no one was willing to authentic documents from private schools. After much prayers and trying whatever ways possible, we finally decided to approach Taiwan embassy directly in New Delhi. This we did when we met at least three officials and got to know them personally as well. And finally, we were directed to authorised agent who did the job in four days to get four stamps and signatures from four different entities which were finally authenticated by Taiwan embassy. In these processes, we experienced the inner leading of the Lord intimately in fine way.

Ninth, to prove the competency in Englush language, either a certificate of school taught in English or internationally approved English language efficiency test must be produced. For this, my wife and I took a considerable amount of time to decide on which one to produce. I was of the opinion that since our children have been taught in English medium school there was no need for English efficiency test which costs about Rs.18,000. However, I asked my wife to check with an English professor who is also a sister in the church, and upon her advise, I was convinced for this test.

Tenth, after researching for a while, I settled on an IELTS exam centre in Gurugram, which I personally visited and registered our daughter. She, then had to prepare for the test amidst her ongoing school activities and preparation for the midterm exams. The Lord had graced her, and she cleared the exam at 8/9 score, way beyond our expectation. In all the processes, we had much prayers and trusting in the Lord.

Eleventh, a personal statement and study plan had to be prepared which our daughter did after she completed the week's midterm exams. Then, I had to go through it and did the final checking and formatting. Even in this, we experienced the Lord guiding us, how to do in a very fine and detailed way. We even prepared supporting documents PowerPoint to highlight our daughter's academic and extra curriculum achievements.

Twelfth, for the final uploading of all the final documents, my wife and I went through all the documents final checking and editing and made sure that no mistake was made. And for the payment online, I applied for Credit card which I discovered was provided free by ICICI Bank which I never realised. It took a few minutes to get it and got two cards, one as complementary. And finally, we submitted the application online, just three days before the due date.

In all these processes, we experienced the Lord shepherding us step by step. No matter what the result would be, we have gained a considerable experiences of Christ already. It was indeed worth going through the experiences. Thank the Lord for all His sovereign arrangements. Now, we wait upon the Lord for His perfect will to be done on our daughter's life. 

As parent, we have done our best for our children. We leave the rest to the Lord. Our plans have been committed to the Lord in prayers, and now it is upto the Lord to decide what He deems best.

The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah. (Proverbs 16:1, RecVer)

May the Lord’s perfect will be done even in our parental shepherding of our children.

Consecration of Twin Boys

On the 2nd of September, I received a surprise call from one sister who used to meet with the church many years ago, who was introduced to me by a brother from her home state, Arunachal Pradesh. Later, she also brought in a good number of her colleagues who were nurse by profession. Due to her busy schedule, she was not able to meet any longer with no leave on Sundays. However, when her relatives came recently to Gurugram for delivery and on the seventh day of the twin baby boys born they desperately wanted a prayed for the consecration of the baby boys. So, I was called and requested. Though I initially thought to just pray over the phone they insisted that I visited them personally, so I took tgat as the Lord’s arrangement and decided to visit. 

However, the day I was to visit them, the 3rd of September, was a very busy day for me. Moreover, the saints from Malaysia were visiting the church for a time of lovefeast fellowship. Many things needed to be done besides my official works. So, I could not visit at the time I initially told them, the afternoon time. So, I postponed it for a later time, assuming that the meeting would be over by 9 PM. But, as we had the saints coming over and the fellowship began, the meeting went on and on and on beyond the scheduled time. In fact, we exceeded by an hour yet I did not have the peace to abruptly stop the meeting. I simply submitted myself to the situation.

Finally, when everything was over, I with another brother went to visit the sister and her relatives. It was exactly 10:30 PM when we arrived the hotel address. When we met her relatives with twin boys, I realised that they had been desperately waiting for me for prayer and dedication of their boys, just before the seventh day from the birth of the boys ended. 

I felt that I should minister some solid word for the family so I gave them a life-changing impression on the Lord Jesus Christ, not only as a religious person but the living God who lives in the believers and transforms them for His divine purpose. I ministered on the purpose of man using Genesis 1:26 and showed them the three parts of man in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. And how God wanted to gain man by first saving them, dispensing His life into them, and growing from within their being unto full maturity. Since they also named their two boys as Nyegom and Nyeeth, having meanings of intelligence, prosperity, or wisdom, I further made it clear to them that only Christ is wisdom using 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30 and that to gain wisdom, one need to gain Christ. Finally, I prayed for the two boys and consecrated them to the Lord. 

But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24, RecVer)

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God: both righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (1 Corinthians 1:30, RecVer)

Furthermore, after a short time of fellowship, we all prayed together and we left. When I came home, it was already an hour past midnight. Despite the busy schedule, time was well spent. Praise the Lord!

May the Lord fully gain the twin boys and their parent for His divine purpose.

Special Fellowship with a Brother

As I was listening to the sharing of the visiting saints from Malaysia, one brother stood up and testified of how he would love to serve the Lord. I was surprised at his sudden declaration in India, and that too in his first visit. He happened to be one of the sons of the key brothers who brought these saints to India. Later, his father asked me if I could spend some time in fellowship with him. Then, immediately, I took that as the Lord’s leading.

Therefore, I accompanied the saints in their last shopping trip at Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj. As we were all together, I started my conversation with the young brother who consecrated himself to serve the Lord. Meanwhile, I felt the need for a private place so that we could focus on the burden of the fellowship. Then, the other saints left us alone, and I had the inward freedom to openly fellowship the burden in my heart for him. Still, we walked around the mall and settled down in one of the corners where we could sit down and fellowship at length.

Initially, I let him introduce himself about his life, work, goal, Christian life, church life, etc. Then, as the Lord burdened me, I mentioned to him the need for a strong and sweet personal relationship with the Lord. For this, I encouraged him to spend personal prayer time with the Lord at least half an hour or an hour every day. And a time with the Lord in reading and studying the Bible. Besides, I also encouraged him to pray, seek, and resolve to do only the perfect will of the Lord in his life. 

In this time of personal fellowship, I also gave my own testimony of how the Lord called me to serve, how He trained me to seek, know, and do His perfect will, and how He taught me to live by faith, and how His presence has always been a blessing in my life, family life, church life, and even in my service. Then, we prayed together,  especially for the Lord's leading in his life based on all the points fellowshipped with him.

I do believe that was a life-changing moment for my dear young brother from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I do believe the Lord brought him to India for this purpose, along with other lessons he learned. I do believe my going there was for this purpose of fellowshipping with him personally. I also believe that that day, the 4th of September,  will be remembered as a special fellowship day in India in his life.

May the Lord bless my brother and gain him fully for His testimony.