Fellowship: Marriage

These days a brother and I, as responsible brothers in the church, have been fellowshipping and helping young brothers and sisters in their marriage plan. We have also been fellowshiping with a brother and sister in their marriage consideration. In all the initiatives that we took, it was with much prayer and consideration.

Last Lord's day night, we were invited to a family of a sister who has been engaged to a brother for planing the wedding procedures. Though they still wanted to practice the traditional wedding style, which I personally will not adhere to it myself, we did not insist on any of our opinion. Our burden was very clear. Since the entire family has not yet come into the church life, whatever we are doing and will do is with the burden of shepherding the entire family,  many of whom are not even saved yet. As long as the thing is not sinful and does not go against the word of God, we tread carefully with a heart of shepherding. Later, as I drove back home and was listening to a Life-study of Ephesians Radio Program on Message 23, I was confirmed of the way to handle this matter. 

Therefore, we must repudiate all ordinances and go along with the practices of the saints, as long as these practices do not involve anything sinful, immoral, or idolatrous. Although we may not approve of certain practices, we should go along with them in order to give no ground for ordinances.

After we went through the proposed procedures of wedding, the Lord gave us the opportunity to fellowship and shepherd the family. 

Since the topic of fellowship was on marriage, I felt the burden to share my own testimony of marriage. Coincidentally, my brother also asked me to testify to the whole family of how I got married. 

I began by stating the biblical truth about God's ordination of marriage. Then started my testimony on how the will of the Lord was being done. To give a balanced view of marriage which many reckon to be a grand  celebration, I testified that my marriage was arranged in a simple way with the church in Taipei's conducting it. It was a simple gathering of the church to witness the marriage. No pomp and show, no glitter and  glamor, but the key thing that was significant was, the Lord's presence. 

I emphasized strongly that the Lord's presence is to be treasured most in a wedding meeting. Once we have the Lord's presence we have every heavenly and spiritual blessings that also includes the earthly and physical blessings too. I further testified that my marriage was full of testimonies. I myself testified of the Lord's works in my life, my wife and her parent and the saints also gave testimonies. Every speaking, hymn singing, and prayer was just testimonies. Marriage indeed is a testimony meeting, a testimony of the church concerning the bride and groom being wedded to be one in the witness of both God and man. In my marriage, the blessing of God and the church by the elders laying their hands upon me and my wife and blessing us was a very precious eternal gift. That blessing has brought abundant blessings throughout our marriage life. Today, everyone who knows us can testimony to that fact, the Lord's blessing in our family life. I felt so blessed to be graced of this wonderful wedding gift, the laying of hands of the elders of the church and blessing us!

I also testified of the testimony shared to me after our wedding meeting. The brother and sisters came and testified to us that they felt and enjoyed the Lord's presence in the wedding meeting. In fact, my brother-in-law's boss, who also has been a Christian all his life, came and shook my hand and testified, "Brother  Palmei, the first time in my life I realized that Christ is still alive!" These testimonies are sweet memories of the Lord's blessing and I keep sharing them whenever the Lord led me to do so. The Lord is so good to me!

I continued my testimony on how I and my wife started our marriage life. I emphasized some practical God-man living that we have been practicing all these years. Praying together, being in one accord in serving the Lord, honoring the Lord with offerings from His blessings, living by faith, exercising and practicing to be one even in money matters, etc. And I also testified of how the Lord provided all our financial needs to start a family life, and that too, in abundance, and He has been faithfully providing. I also told the family the need for a normal marriage life in today's age of moral degradation and lawlessness. And encouraged the sister to be married to treasure and pray for a normal marriage life for the Lord's testimony. 

Then we all prayed together for the sister who was to get married, for the marriage function, for the family, and for the Lord's testimony ultimately through all that we do. Then, we took leave, trusting the Lord for His practical leading.

May the Lord recover the entire family for His testimony.

Shepherding the Saints

The Lord is my Shepherd and He is also the Shepherd of the saints. He as the Shepherd shepherds His flock through his many shepherds of whom I am graced to be one of them. As I serve in coordination in the local church here, saints now and then come for shepherding. Though I don't presume to be a shepherd myself, the Lord brought saints who need shepherding. And in shepherding them, I am being shepherded as well.

Yesterday, a sister called me and narrated all the bad dreams of demonic attacks she underwent in her dream and seriously needed a prayer. I comforted her with the word of God in Numbers 23:23

Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob And of Israel, What has God wrought! 

The devil can threaten to attack, but they cannot really posses a believer as the Lord Spirit is in their spirit. I encouraged her to be filled with the word of God giving no room for the enemy. I also told her about her need to be blended with the saints more and be in fellowship of the church. This is not merely for her enjoyment but also for her protection. Then we prayed together.

Today, she and her two children came over to our home for love feast lunch. My wife and I had a wonderful time of fellowship with them. There was nourishing with the word of God and prayer, and there was also cherishing with human care and concern. They have been going through a lot in their lives as she has been through two divorces and court cases bugging her all the time. She also admitted her mistakes in acting according to her flesh in the past. I charged her to treasure the Lord's presence more than anything else. As she is also now faced with many difficult decisions to make, I warned her strictly not to go by her logic and natural mind. But to wait on the Lord and wait for His leading. Until she is clear about the Lord's leading she must wait and wait and do nothing. The Lord's presence is most to be treasured, without which nothing must be done. She agreed to the fellowship and has been humbled by all the hardships she has been bearing all this while. Then, we all prayed together. After such a time of fellowship and shepherding, she and her son and daughter were so happy and filled with much joyful noises of fellowship in my home. We all were shepherded.

Two weeks ago, another sister called up and requested for fellowship. She came along with her business partner, a brother in the Lord. As we fellowshipped, the Lord led me to minister on the line of "enquiring of the Lord" for everything in our Christian life. In fact, this topic came up based on that brother's last name, Jehosaphet. His father had given him this name as he was inspired by the life of king Jehosaphet in the Bible who enquired of the Lord. Our fellowship was fully in doing the will of the Lord even in business affairs and all practical matters. I shared my testimony of how the Lord saved me and called me and led me thus far. The Lord came to shepherd all of us in that fellowship and we all prayed together. Then I gifted this brother, a Hindi Rhema set, the Gospel John Recovery Version, and a set of English Shepherding Materials, which he happily received them with a promise to read them as well.

In this way, though I could not go out much, the Lord has been bringing saints and seekers to shepherd them in my home. May the Lord continue to shepherd them and and bring them to the full knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:4

Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. 

A Shepherding Recovery

Two weeks ago a sister and her husband came to meet me, uniformed. I was in a hurry to take a brother for a fellowship over lunch but I had to delay it as this couple came over to fellowship with me. To my surprise, they brought some gifts of household items; bed sheets, shawls, and clothes for my wife with some monetary offering. I fellowshipped with her gently that she need not do this material favor, and yet she can freely fellowship without any hesitation. She was so glad that she could come over to meet me and offer the gifts.

She also informed me about how the Lord has been leading her husband and her in their life and how she has been  a blessing to a good number of people. She also mentioned about how she has been supplied with the ministry of the word by brother Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. She has also been leading a group of new believers and is carrying out her ministry as she flet the Lord led her that way. I simply told her that as long as she was clear about the Lord's leading she may continue to go on and I have no say otherwise. Who am I to suggest otherwise anyway? I also encouraged her to share her testimony in the upcoming gospel meeting which she readily agree.

Today, in the Friday Gospel Meeting, she shared her testimony. I am glad that she has been recovered back to the fellowship. I hope and pray that she would continue in the fellowship and fully be recovered to take a stand for the Lord and His testimony. In fact, I have a thing to confess; I literally gave her up after she deviated to some charismatic movement and mystic pursuit. I never thought that she would come back to fellowship as she felt she had a different calling and that she could not be restricted in the church life. That's why I gave her up, not knowing it would resurrect again. Meanwhile, I never gave her up in my prayer nor in my family and church prayer. Once the Lord brought someone into contact, it must have always been good for the Lord's testimony. Therefore, none should actually be given up. Only at times, in desperation of the situation in Christianity some may be temporarily given up, but in heart and in prayer, they are always there.

I hope and pray that this will lead her to the full recovery of her, her family, and all her sheep. Only the Lord knows how and when. 

The Lord is faithful to recover His chosen ones in time.

The Last Meal

In the month of June, a brother and I visited a sister who has not been keeping well physically nor spiritually. As we fellowshipped and prayed together, even calling upon the name of the Lord, she gave us lovely hospitality by requesting us to eat the meal she loving prepared for us as she knew that we would be visiting her. After the fellowship we enjoyed the meal without an iota of thought that it would be the last meal we would ever have together again.

Since then, the meeting I had was only with her son who came over to my place now and then. Today, her son called me and visited me. To my shocking surprise, he told me that his mother went to be with the Lord. On further enquiry, it was last Saturday that she breathed her last at a young age of 52. Perhaps, due to stroke or asthma attack which she has been battling all her life. A year ago she also suffered a sever inquiry in a road accident and was in coma for a couple of months. Her health had deteriorated speedily as she underwent a lot of work pressure, psychological conflict, and marital problems. All that I could do was to shepherd the family and pray for them.

Her fellowship with me was related to her health and her son's well being. She was so concerned for her son. She wanted me to take him and shepherd him under my care. But I told her it would not be proper for her son to be with me when she, his mother, was still alive and live in the same city. Though she herself was not regular in the church life, she desired that her son be in the church life. In fact, I fellowshipped with her that she firstly be a pattern to her son in loving the Lord, pursuing the Lord, and be active in the church life. Then, her son would follow suit.

Her wish, now her last wish, which she commissioned me when I met her last was, firstly, to shepherd her son in the church life, and then, secondly, find a sister in the church life to be her son's wife. In fact, one day I called up his son to check on the matter of his marriage who has already carved a career for himself and is of a marriageable age now. Today, when his son came to meet me, informing me of his mother's demise, I conveyed his mother's last wish for him.

I took this opportunity to fellowship with him about the urgent need for his spiritual recovery. I used the negative example of Steve Job who regretted successfully chasing after his dream all his life when it could not save him a bit while on his dead bed. I also used a positive example of brother Ronnie Chan, though a wealthy man, has given his life to love and serve the living God. To help him recover, I proposed that we pray and enjoy morning revival together about four times a week, which he reluctantly and finally agreed. And that he sanctify the Lord's day for the Lord to meet with the church and fellowship with the saints regularly. Finally, I lovingly and seriously warned him of the need for him to set his priority right; his first priority must be the Lord, and all the the rest, next. Spiritual life should and must be his primary concern, and all the rest of his work, career, job, money, etc., must all be secondary. Then, we prayed together. And he agreed to these points of practical fellowship.

On the one hand I am sad that sister is no more, yet on the other hand I am glad that this would be to the salvation of her son for his full recovery. The last meal I had with sister Rachna would well be remembered and I reckon that as a testament for the shepherding of his son.

May the Lord gain this brother fully for His testimony.

God's Appearing

The last weekend as we had a fellowship with a matured and elderly brother, in the leading and responsible brothers fellowship of the churches in Tamilnadu, I had the Lord's appearing again. The Lord's appearing is His visitation, His speaking the timely word to me. This time, the fellowship that touched me most was in the matter of the Lord's appearing again and again.

Acts 26:16

But rise up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a minister and a witness both of the things in which you have seen Me and of the things in which I will appear to you; 

The Lord appeared once to Saul of Tarsus at his conversion and then the Lord promised to appear again and again to Paul. At least about seven times the Bible mentioned about the Lord's appearing to Paul. Each time He appeared, He spoke a living word to him, for his ministry, and for the fulfillment of the Lord's commission.

In a similar way, I need the Lord's appearing again and again. Perhaps, through my time spent with Him, the reading and study of the word, the pursuing of the truths, the ministry meetings, the church meetings, the fellowship with fellow believers, and through many other means, the Lord appears. I must not be blind nor deaf to His appearing. I must daily pray, "Lord, appear to me every day. Speak to me atleast a word each day."

In this way of His appearing, I would be supplied, strengthened, constituted, and would become fruitful in my Christian life and service. If all the saints, at least the brothers, are receiving the Lord's appearing time and again, the churches will be healthy and strong. There will be much increase in quantity and quality of the saints.

Lord, appear to me every day. Give me Your word every day.

Life Lesson: House Cleaning

Once in a while whenever I get time and felt the need I would clean up my house. As a family, we all coordinated together to serve together to take care of our Home Sweet Home. My wife has her responsibilities, so also all my cousin brothers, my children, and I myself too. We have no servant to help us in any household matter. We ourselves have been doing all the household chores, and prefer to do it this way. Even my children have assignment for house cleaning on Saturdays and holidays besides the daily folding of clothes and washing their eating vessels. Its for our learning and perfecting. This is our family life and we love it this way.

As time goes by, dust easily settles on the furnitures in the house, including the ceiling fans. When it becomes so obvious I could not tolerated the sight of it. So I planed for a time when I would be free to do the cleaning work. My family members help me too. 

Day before yesterday, I felt the urgent need and spent about two hours cleaning up all the furniture with the fans. With sweat in a humid weather, I was joyfully cleaning the house. I am glad that the Lord gave me a house to live in and it is my responsibility to maintain it. Even when a brother called me for prayer and pursuing, I did it as I kept cleaning the house. The prayer and pursuing was done over the phone, so I put my headset on and continued with my work, praying and listening to the reading of the truth. Even before and after this pursuing, I was enjoying the Life-study of Ephesians, Radio broadcast, three messages in a row. Outwardly cleaning and inwardly enjoying the word of God. In this way, the house was cleaned and my inward being was also cleansed through the word of God.

Last Lord's day evening, the brothers assigned me to speak in an online seekers' meeting for Marathi speaking seekers. The burden of the message was on dealing with the heart and conscience. The message I ministered was also what I experienced in my life. The Lord has been dealing with my inward being and cleansing me day by day. He does this because He loves me and is gaining me gradually. What I ministered was also what I have been experiencing these days.

My house furniture cleaned up by dusting, and wiping with wet clothes in water. So was my inward cleansing was with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus and by the washing of the water in the word.

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from every sin. 

Ephesians 5:26

That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word.

May I continously be cleansed as I am also easily contaminated by things surrounding me, as one still being in the world as a man. I need His cleansing day by day. Lord, thank You for Your precious blood and Your precious word for my cleansing.

Intimate Concern for a Brother

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not that you would be made sorrowful but that you would know the love which I have more abundantly toward you.  2 Corinthians 2:4

But I, I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent on behalf of your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved less? 2 Corinthians 12:15

Paul has been a pattern to me in his intimate concern for the saints and the churches under his shepherding care. He spent and was spent on the saints and wrote to them with many tears. That's a window of how he shepherded the saints. What a wonderful pattern! I only hope and pray that I can learn from brother Paul.

When a brother called me and requested to come and stay with me for fellowship and rest, I could only respond by saying, "Praise the Lord! Welcome!" In fact, I have not been good at giving hospitality at all. Firstly, I don't have that experience, and whenever guests came it was an experiment for me. Those experiments turned out to be my wonderful experiences. 

On the infrastructure side, we don't have enough room to accommodate guests, and we don't have an air conditioner to host the guest as we ourselves have been living all this while without it, despite the hot and humid weather. It was ok for my family as we are adapted to this kind of lifestyle, but I cannot impose this on my guest. Above all, our food too is very simple and we cook mostly a North Eastern style of food while most of our guests are either from the South or from the North; our food habits are opposite. Despite all these, we braved the challenges and cared for intimate concern rather than physical comfort.

Thank God, for this brother, there is a guest room available at the literature office which has not been used as we have not been meeting due to the present pandemic situation. We did our best to make him as comfortable as possible. We also did our best to give him the food that would be suitable for him. It turned out that he liked all the food we gave him, enjoyed it, and wanted more of it despite being a North Indian. This was just the physical care for cherishing him.

On the nourishing side, every day I spent some time with him to fellowship or pray together. Each day of his stay for six days, the Lord gave a fresh message and a burden to release to him. The Lord worked on him so well that he was open from within to receive all the fellowship despite he being a rebel just a week ago. The Lord has his sovereign way of gaining people and recovering them for the church life. From my side, I did all that I could do, to my very best. The outcome, I leave it to the Lord.

In the past, I dealt with rebels against the church life or opposers of the Lord's recovery by defending the truths using the Bible. I fought tooth and nail to prove to the opponents that what we follow is truth, orthodox, and biblically correct. But despite winning the verbal battle using the Bible, they all avoided me or stopped talking to me by not receiving my calls nor my messages. They were defeated in the truth battle but never subdued inwardly to acknowledge the fact. I felt very disappointed that despite showing all the correct Bible verses to vindicate our beliefs and practices, the person themselves was not gained at all. This time, in dealing with opposers, the Lord led me to pray for them and shepherd them. Though I knew how to fight and defend the truths which I dearly uphold, to win opposers is by prayer and shepherding them with an intimate concern. I experimented with this brother. And it worked! And later, after staying for a couple of days, he repented and asked forgiveness for all the misinformation and accusations against the ministry. He even called up and messaged all the brothers he hurt by his accusation and set things right. I myself had taken him to two brothers to fellowship face to face.

After all these, I thought to myself, had I reacted according to his accusations, he would not even dare to call me again, far less, come and stay with me for six days. Thank God for this precious lesson of intimate concern even for opposing brother. He was recovered back and now he started enjoying the Lord through the ministry books again.

Lord, grant me thr grace to have an intimate concern for all the saints.