Baptism on the Twelfth Birthday

He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned. Mark 16:16 

Today is our youngest daughter's birthday. She turned twelve, and it was a great day, as she was also baptised. The day was both her spiritual and physical birthday! Baptism on her Twelfth Birthday!

For the past few months, she has been praying daily for her baptism, believing into the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior and experiencing the working of the Holy Spirit in and upon her. As parents, we have been praying for our children's salvation when the Holy Spirit prompted us to start praying for all our children's salvation. All that we could do was to pray and commit them to the Lord. The Lord is faithful in answering all our prayers, especially those prayers points which are according to His heart's desire. For sure, salvation is the heart's desire of God for man. We simply and faithfully prayed and prayed. 

In 2022, our eldest daughter got saved and was baptised in the month of June. In the same year, in the month of November, our son got baptized. Both were the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives and also through the Body as an answer to our prayers for our children. This year, our youngest daughter believed into the Lord Jesus and received Him. Since then, she has been sincerely praying for her own baptism every day. Then, as parents, we realized this was the work of the Holy Spirit, and so we cooperated with the Holy Spirit and started praying for her baptism daily. Even when I was on a ministry literature journey, when I called home every night to pray, we prayed for her baptism.

Last month, as I was considering when to baptise her, I deemed it fit to baptise her on her birthday. Initially, I kept the matter to myself and started praying for this particular date. Then, I mentioned it to my whole family during one of our family prayer meetings. Then, I brought it in fellowship to the brothers in the church. Then, finally, after all the prayers and fellowship in the Body with the Body, today she was baptised. 

Last Tuesday, in our small group meeting, I fellowshiped concerning her baptism and shared the truth concerning baptism with those who were not yet baptized. All the saints prayed for her baptism.

In fact, the past few days and today, the messages I have listened to and pursued are related to the baptism into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and also into the name of the Lord Jesus. I took those speakings from the Lord as a confirmation of the baptism today.

This baptism was properly fellowshipped and prayed over thoroughly. It was a new experience for me too, in having enough prayers and preparation, and I was graced to baptise my own daughter with whom I have been coordinating in serving the Lord together, both in the church and literature service. The Lord is truly faithful in leading us in every matter. Praise Him! Glory be to Him!

What a coordination! What a testimony! What a blessing! Hallelujah!

Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matt. 28:19 

Bible Study at CMC Vellore

Last week, a brother called me to inform me that he had arranged a Bible study session with the medical student of CMC Vellore at the Campus Chapel. He has been working as a medical doctor in the hospital wing of the college and has easy access to the students. I reckoned this as the Lord’s arrangement and consent to his proposal. In fact, this was the second time such a meeting was arranged for me to share the word with the students. He also made an invitation card with the title "Living Word."  Even the burden he had for the students, I picked up the same. This was the Lord’s arrangement, and I simply followed what my brother had arranged.

On the 24th of November, Monday night, after a whole day of meeting with some other brothers and sisters, this medical doctor brother, along with his wife and a full-time serving brother, we went to CMC Vellore Chapel for the Bible study. 

As we began the meeting with the MBBS students, I first offered an opening prayer for the Lord to flow forth the living words. As I requested the students to choose a song, one of them chose a song on praying to the Lord to "open the eyes of our hearts." Immediately, I picked this phrase and started the Bible study with Bible verses on Ephesians 1:17, 18. 

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him, The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:17-18, RecVer)

The Bible is God-breathed, the words that came out of the Lord’s mouth, which are spirit and are life. The Bible is THE BOOK and is different from any other book. Only this Book is the word of God that gives life, the Solution to every problem in the universe, and the Answer to every question. This is the only Book that is worth reading over again and again as many times as possible, and every time it gives new light. This is not merely a religious book, not even a sacred book only but the Book that is God-breathed and gives spirit and life to the believers.

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16, RecVer)

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (John 6:63, RecVer)

Then, I led the students to read verse by verse John 6:31-51, 57, and picked the key phrases on Jesus being the Bread.

1. The True Bread 
2. The Bread of God
3. The Bread of Life
4. The Bread out of Heaven
5. The Living Bread

The Lord Jesus Christ is the true Bread; all the other breads are just the physical type that can meet only temporary need. Only this true Bread gives the eternal life to the one who eats Him as the Bread. He is the Bread of God, and He is God Himself. Eating Him is to "eat God" because He is the Bread of God in the sense of receiving the divine life supply from God, as He is also the Bread of Life. All other breads will one day lead to death, no matter how many times they are eaten, but this Bread of Life leads only to eternal life. This Bread is from Heaven as it is from God and of God, full of life, and is therefore the living Bread.  

So, the best thing to do with the Bread is to eat Him. Many people have read the Bible mentally, but how many have eaten the Bible? Without receiving the Bread as mentioned in John 6, the real significance of the Bread will not be realised. The Bread must be eaten!

What is Bread for? It is for eating. Eating is the process of transforming the objective food to become a subjective, nutritious life supply for the one who eats. Therefore, the Bread must be eaten, not just read or studied. 

Eat the Bread

As the living Father has sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me. (John 6:57, RecVer)

The Lord Jesus plainly states the need for eating Him as the Bread so that one can live because of Him who is the Bread.

How to Eat

Man is of three parts: spirit, soul, and body (1 Thes. 1:23). To eat the Lord Jesus as the Bread, the Body must be exercised to pick up the Bible, open it, and read with the eyes. Then, use the soul, the mind, to understand what was read. And finally, use the spirit to digest by praying and receiving the word read, the Bread, as life.

In this way, the MBBS students were helped to know the importance of the Bible being God-breathed, spirit and life, and that they should read the Bible every day to eat the Bread to grow in their spiritual life unto maturity.

May the Lord bless all the students and grace them to eat Him as the living Bread every day unto full maturity. 

Fellowships in Vellore

The visit to this city was not a part of my plan. However, as I planned to travel to Anantapur for the distribution, a brother inquired if I could pass through Vellore for a visit. Later, after further fellowship with the brothers, making the plan for the distribution, my visit to Vellore was confirmed as my last stop this time was planned in Palameneru, which was not far from Vellore.

Last Lord’s Day, after the combined meeting in Palameneru, I came along with a brother's family to Vellore. I spent some time in the bookroom, and then we travelled together to a remote village to fellowship with a family who had recently been recovered into the church life. The Lord led me to share about having a "hidden life" of prayer with the Lord daily. 

It is common for many saints to pray corporately and enjoy the church life corporately. However, there is a great lack in spending a private, intimate, spiritual relationship and fellowship with the Lord. I shared my own testimony of how the Lord led me in almost every practical matter of my life during my personal time spent with Him. And I testified how the Lord answered my prayers for my family's salvation, serving the Lord full-time, family life, and many important decisions taken after solid hours of personal time with the Lord in prayer. The brothers were so touched by the fellowship that they all testified one by one how much they lagged behind in their personal prayer life. They also confessed that due to this lack, they have drifted away from the Lord in their daily living. Though I did not know about their spiritual condition, the Lord spoke the timely word to each one of them. Praise the Lord!

The following day, we visited two brothers who were saved due to their critical health condition while being treated at CMC Vellore. I listened to their testimony of salvation, which was mostly due to their hopelessness after difficult times of serious medical issues. One was from West Bengal, a Bangla-speaking brother, and the other from Bihar, a Hindi-speaking brother. I felt the Lord was introducing me to them, or vice versa, for the future purpose of the Lord’s move in North India. I patiently listened to their testimonies and interjected now and then to clarify what I understood of their sharing in Hindi. They both were so excited to fellowship with me, and I responded to their fellowship with amens. After two hours of listening to their testimonies, as we needed to go to another fellowship, I prayed on their request and left.

About an hour and a half drive from Vellore, we visited a new family who are gradually turning towards church life. To them, after the lovefeast lunch, the Lord led me to share on doing the will of the Father using the Lord Jesus as a pattern in Matthew 26. God has His one unique will, and all that we are and do must be in line and within His will. Oftentimes, there is a clash of opinions in the mind, but we must pray to do only the will of the Father as the Lord prayed, no matter what the price.

And taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee aside, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch with Me. And going forward a little, He fell on His face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will. And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, So were you not able to watch with Me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again, going away a second time, He prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done. (Matthew 26:37-42, RecVer)

The Lord Jesus was deeply distressed and exceedingly sorrowful concerning His crucifixion at the cross and prayed to the Father if it was possible to bypass it, but He submitted to the Father's will by saying, "Let Your will be done." What a wonderful pattern of the God-man Jesus Christ!

In the same way, we all have to submit our lives and all matters to the Father that His perfect will be done in every matter so that in all the wills that we carry out, His will be done. This fellowship was for all the family members, as they all were facing dilemmas in their lives. They were greatly helped by the fellowship, as that was what they actually needed at the moment. May the Lord’s perfect will be done in their lives.

Then, we visited a brother and his wife who were pastoring a congregation. To them, the Lord led me to fellowship on the oneness of the Body of Christ, the one new man, and the church in her local aspect. I also introduced the New Testament Recovery Version to them using the footnotes in Matthew 1 on the son of David, the five women, and the wife of Uriah. They both were so supplied through the fellowship and wanted more fellowship. However, we need to take leave as we have two more meetings lined up in the evening.

Finally, in the evening after the Bible study time with some medical students in CMC Vellore, we had a dinner lovefeast fellowship with a brother's family who has been going through situations. To them, the fellowship was on trusting the Lord to live by faith and to seek the presence of the Lord in everything by sharing my testimony of how the Lord supplied all my needs and led me with His presence from the time I came to serve the Lord full-time.

After all these enjoyable fellowships, all the meetings that were arranged for me were all taken care of. In each meeting, the Lord gave the timely word, and all who attended the meeting and fellowship were richly supplied. Hallelujah! Out from the throne of God and the Lamb flows the rivers of living water!

And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street. (Revelation of John 22:1, RecVer)

Lord, continue to bless Your testimony in Vellore.

Ministry of the Word in Palamenaru

 This was the third time I visited this locality. In the previous two visits, I came here for the ministry of the word literature distribution. But this time, due to the brothers' request, I came just to visit after the distribution trip as a "passing through" on my way back home. 

The brothers fellowshipped and made an arrangement for a combined Lord’s Table Meeting of three localities nearby: the churches in Palameneru, Tirupati, and Vellore. Though I was informed of the meeting, no one specifically informed me that I should minister the word. In fact, all the brothers assumed that I knew that I should minister the word. So, I was just prepared simply to enjoy the blending meeting of the saints and prophesy my portion for three minutes. However, in case the brothers requested me to minister the word, I would simply follow the brother who gave the opening word. So, I kept myself open to the Lord for whatever He wanted me to minister, if He wills so.

The saints have all arrived for the combined meeting, and the bread-breaking meeting was done. Then, I was informed by the brothers that I should minister the word for an hour with translation into Telugu and Tamil. But before I stood up to minister, there were a few minutes' gaps when the serving ones were adjusting the translation arrangement. I used that time to quickly consider what would be the need of the saints. The Lord then led me to call hymn 812 on coming to the Lord to eat and to drink Him on the word and in prayer. The message was made clear to me to minister on eating and drinking the Lord in prayer and in the word.

For an hour, I released my burden on the need to come to the word of God daily and also the need for a prayer life with personal testimonies of reading the Bible in a scheduled way with a goal, and a prayer life- personal, family, and the church prayer. My burden was fully released. Later, the saints testified that this was the need of the time for all the saints, as many saints have not been practising the basics of the daily Christian life of coming to the Lord in the word and in prayer.

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, That the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, RecVer)

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (John 6:63, RecVer)

And the word of God grew, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly; and a large number of the priests obeyed the faith. (Acts 6:7, RecVer)

And when they had so besought, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31, RecVer)

After the meeting, we had a time of lovefeast and blending, and then left along with the saints in Vellore for my visit to Vellore. 

Lord, continue to bless the churches in Palameneru, Tirupati, and Vellore.

Ministry of the Word to Uravakonda, Konepalli, and Pamidi

Uravakonda

On our way to Anantapur, we detoured to Uravakonda to meet a group of village Pastors in a remote area. For some reason, I did not feel like getting involved in the speaking, as most of them did not understand English. Therefore, I left the matter to the local brothers. Meanwhile, I went to take a prayer walk in the nearby empty land. 

Towards the end of our brothers' introduction of the ministry literature, one Pastor with an evil intention purposefully attacked the Telugu translation without any solid basis. The question he asked was not even a point of truth, but an article referring to a child Jesus. He was not even willing to listen to what our brothers had to say. In anger, he muttered something in Telugu and left. This was the only negative experience in the entire trip this time. It was a lesson for us not just to speak the truth but also to pray and exercise the spirit while speaking. The local brothers learned their lesson not to take the ministry lightly. Nevertheless, there were genuine seeking brothers who enquired more on the ministry books and purchased them.

Konepalli

In this minsitry journey to Anantapur, one of our coordinating brothers hail from a village, Konepalli. Since his family members are yet to be saved, I felt very good to visit them. So we did. The family had prepared a local delicacy for our dinner. As we fellowshipped, I prophesied in my spirit that the brothers' whole family would be saved, and the very place where we ate our dinner would be the very place the Lord’s Table Meeting bread should be broken when the church is raised up in the near future. I had a strong burden for the salvation of the entire family and the villagers; therefore, I preached a one-sentence gospel to the parents, "Believe into the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." Then, I prayed for their salvation. I do believe the Lord will save the entire household of my brother, along with the villagers, and raise up the church in Konepalli.

Pamidi

We, then, headed for a meeting with the young working Christians in Pamidi. When we arrived, I was requested to minister the word as it was also the weekly Christian meeting. I ministered on "worshipping God in spirit all the time" with the main emphasis on being in our spirit to worship God in spirit all the time, not merely at a specific time of a day or on a specific day of a week, using John 4:9-24.

Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. (John 4:21, RecVer)

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness. (John 4:24, RecVer)

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. (2 Timothy 4:22, RecVer)

The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. (Romans 8:16, RecVer)

After the ministry of the word on worshipping God in spirit all the time, the local brothers introduced the ministry books and the New Testament Recovery Version in Telugu. Almost everyone present in the meeting purchased the Recovery Version. Then, in the night, we left for Anantapur.

May the Lord who spoke the word and led us to all these localities cause His words, as the seed of the word of God, to grow unto the raising up of His testimony.

Ministry of the Word to Anantapur

We had been visiting different parts of Ananatapur district for the past few days, and we had finally come to the main city of Ananatapur. We arrived very late in the night and were given hospitality in the home of a brother who is also an officer in the agriculture department. 

The next morning after breakfast, we had a time of fellowship with our host's family. As they requested me to share something, I shared on the need for all Christians to be constituted with the word of God. For some reason, the Lord’s leading in all the fellowships and meetings in this trip was on the word of God and prayer. As I shared these two burdens, the family members were very encouraged. They even indicated that they would renew their Christian living with daily Bible reading and prayers. 

We were then led to meet an independent Pastor who was also very impressed by the introduction of the Recovery Version and immediately purchased it for himself and promised to read it and then introduce it to his congregation. 

Then, we met one key Pastor in the city who is also a well-known Bible teacher. At first, I gave the time to the local Telugu-speaking brothers to introduce the Recovery Version in Telugu. Though he appreciated it, he also tried to compare it with all the other Bibles in his possession. He also brought out a Telugu study Bible, which he compiled. Then, I was asked to minister something.

I began by quoting 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Timothy 3:16,17 on the need for the Christians to come to the full knowledge of the truth. Then, I ministered on the need to daily pursue the word of God, which can make the Christians grow in life, and how the truth can teach a person, convict him, correct him, and instruct him in righteousness so that the man of God may be complete and perfect in every good work. The Lord then touched this Pastor, who is a Bible teacher, so much so that he requested me to come and introduce the Recovery Version Bible in his upcoming Silver Jubilee celebration of the ministry he has been involved in, where about two hundred Pastors are expected to attend. However, I did not have any leading to confirm to him. He bought the New Testament Recovery Version. 

We then visited the sister of one of our brothers and preached the gospel and led them to pray to receive the Lord. After which, a meeting was arranged in another Christian group where I ministered on loving God with the love of God as God is love.

And now, O Israel, what does Jehovah your God ask of you except that you fear Jehovah your God so that you would walk in all His ways and love Him and serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul; (Deuteronomy 10:12, RecVer)

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God, and everyone who loves has been begotten of God and knows God. He who does not love has not known God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8, RecVer)

And we know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16, RecVer)

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40, RecVer)

And Jehovah your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, so that you will love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (Deuteronomy 30:6, RecVer)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35, RecVer)

The next day, we had an early morning meeting with the top leader, the Superintendent of a big Christian group. By his own confession, he has been an ardent lover of the ministry of the word and has been listening to and studying the Life-study messages. Despite all that he confessed, there was a lack of reality and depth in whatever he confessed. May the Lord speak to him in a stronger and deeper way so that he may be fully recovered to practice the ministry he professed to appreciate.

Then, we met another Pastor who was so much touched by the Recovery Version Bible we introduced and the words we fellowshipped with him, especially on the matter of righteousness. Then, a meeting with another politician turned Pastor, and finally, a group of students.

By the way, the Lord has been drawing a young brother to fellowship with us. He was one of the Pastors we met in our last distribution journey. He showed interest in the truth and also in fellowship with us. He even shared his personal testimony with me and indirectly hinted at his need for himself, his family, and the congregation he is shepherding. May the Lord gain him fully for His testimony one day.

After all these meetings for two days in Anantapur city, our distribution journey this time had come to an end. Brothers from other localities went back, and some of us proceeded to attend the combined Lord’s Table Meeting in Palameneru.

Praise the Lord for the city of Ananatapur. May the Lord, in His time, establish the golden lampstand in Ananatapur. 

Ministry of the Word to Guntakal

In Guntakal, we were first introduced to one of the key Christian leaders in the city. The Father-Son duo who led the group were well-versed in English. So, I took the lead to introduce the Recovery Version and the ministry books. 

As I used the verse in Ephesians 1:5 to show the accuracy of translation using "sonship verses adoption," the key senior Pastor confirmed my speaking with a resounding excitement and joy. He testified that he just preached on "becoming God," the last Lord’s Day, to the believers in his congregation. However, he was not too sure, as his English version says "adoption". However, when I pointed out the Greek word used for sonship and proved the divine thought with John 1:12, 13; 3:3,5, he was all the more excited. I also clarified that "becoming God" is only in life and nature but not in the Godhead, he exclaimed in joy that his vague understanding of the truth had been made crystal clear. He was so happy when I confirmed his vague understanding of what I just spoke to him about sonship. Then, we had a wonderful time of fellowship as Christian brothers. Later, they provided a wonderful lovefeast.

Next, we had a time of fellowship with another Pastor and his son on the Recovery Version of the Holy Bible. Though they initially were skeptical about the translation we presented, when I explained the matter of accuracy in translation and the revelations concealed in the footnotes, they became very interested in the truth and also very submissive from their initial attitude of skepticism. Later, I also shared my testimony on how God called me to serve Him and how He has been faithfully leading and blessing me; they were very impressed. We were given hospitality in his guest rooms.

The next morning, the Pastor and his wife gave a wonderful local delicacy for breakfast, and we enjoyed a time of fellowship wherein they also requested me to pray for them.

In the night, a meeting was arranged for working people where I shared the need for coming to the full knowledge of the truth by being constituted with the word of God by daily reading, studying, and receiving the word of God.

In this way, the Lord blessed the ministry distribution in Guntakal. May He raise up His testimony through His chosen people at the proper time.