A Joyful Baptism!

Last Tuesday I received a phone call from a sister that she would bring a new lady to the meeting hall and that I should be available to meet her. Though I had official works, I made myself available giving priority to what was more urgent. 

A young, smart, and intelligent lady came and I initially talked with her on the subject of her profession and interest. As I could see, she was so happy to discuss the matter that she really liked, her job, her education, and her family matters. After the friendly talk, I felt the need to change the topic and let her hear the gospel. So I preached the gospel in a very simple way using the mystery of human life.

Upon hearing the gospel, she started narrating her encounter with the name Jesus, and how she blindly believed into the Lord Jesus and prayed to Him regularly though she herself was from a Hindu Brahmain background. I was taken aback to hear her testify of her experiences of the Lord Jesus Christ. She made a bold statement, "Jesus is God!" She went on further to confess her faith in Jesus and the comfort and joy she received in praying to Jesus. In fact, she wore a crucifix on her left hand and testified that she have a strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and pray to him regularly.

Still to help her properly, I led her to pray the sinner's prayer and strengthened her faith in the Lord. Observing her real condition, I left that she needed to know the truth about baptism. To my surprise again, she proclaimed that she has been waiting for the day to be baptised. Well then, I told her that if she should desire or choose to, we could help her. She joyfully exclaimed that she wanted to be baptised. So we baptised her. O what a joy to lead people to baptism when they joyfully long for it! Praise the Lord!

This sister has indeed been prepared by the Lord. The Holy Spirit has already been operating in her. It was the ripe time that she came and that she was baptised. She has been joyful through out our fellowship. No wonder, she joyfully took baptism and even became more joyful!

May the Lord preserve her joy and that she be shepherded and grow continually. I gifted her the Shepherding Material and The New Testament, Recovery Version as I could perceive her capacity to receive the word of God. Amen.

An SOS Call

A brother called me up last week out of the blue. Though I was busy with my office work, I felt the need to receive his call. I obliged to the request he made for fellowship. So, he began to open up his personal matters and said that I was the one he felt free to open up to.

For the first half hour or so, he narrated his ordeals of his helplessness in many practical matters of his life. Despite being a medical doctor with Master's degree he could not find any job. In fact, he lost his job due to the pandemic. Since then, he has been jobless and became hopeless. He has been through verbal insult from his own father and opposition from his own wife in many aspects, just because he was jobless. He has been warned of the church life and the reading of the ministry books even by his own wife. On top of that, he also lost his mother during the pandemic. All these added to his woes and worries. So only he called me up for fellowship.

After listening patiently to all he had to say, I could sense his problem. Therefore, I fellowship with him of his need for a proper Christian living. He is a dear brother whom I have known for years. So, I told him to take my words seriously and as before the Lord. I told him, "You are the problem!" Initially, he was shocked to hear my frank statement. But then he realized the truth behind my statement. And I pointed out to him some basic points he neglected in his life. No wonder, he was in that helpless and hopeless state.

To start with, I charged him to first spend time with the Lord daily. Yes, even to set specific time to pray daily and count the length of time spent on prayer. Then, I also charged him to read the Bible every day without fail. And finally, I also charged him to pray with his wife daily. All these three practical points he agreed to do, and that he should report to me initially. In fact, he tried and reported to me the following days. 

My only intention was to shepherd him for his own good. And I did so in his own initiation to call me up for help. I was just being responsible to help a brother in need. In fact, he also started joining the online meetings of the church in Gurugram as there has been no meeting since pandemic started in his locality. At least, in this way, my brother can be restored of his spiritual function and be recovered into the fellowship of the Body of Christ which he lost for many years.

That was an SOS call from a dear brother and my sincere and simply fellowship. May the Lord fully restore and recover him for His testimony in Ludhiana where the testimony of Jesus seems to have waned due to the unfaithfulness of certain leading ones and their impure hearts. 

An Unexpected Baptism

A new one was brought to the meeting two weeks ago on the Lord’s day. She was on a friendly chat while I was busy with the young people meeting. Then, the young people gospel meeting followed, which she also joined. Then I felt the burden to preach the gospel to her. So we had a small group gospel meeting.

As I preached the gospel, I was led to narrate the pathetic situation of people today. How helpless man has been because of the sinful nature of Satan being infected into man. Despite being wealthy and famous, many high class people are living in a desperate condition. Some, not knowing the solution to their problems took the short cut of suicide. Some, taming their troubled mind by consulting a psychiatrist and living by pills to ease their anxious mind. While I discoursed on the practical problems, that new lady was so convicted. She immediately confessed that she was such a one and that she really needed help. My help was simple, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Jesus saves and only Jesus can save.

Then, I offered her the way to receive the Lord if she should choose to receive. I made it very clear that the choice was hers. I only showed her the way out of her present problem. She readily obliged to receive my help. So I led her to pray the sinner's prayer of repentance, confession, and believing into the Lord Jesus Christ. She willingly did according to her own will.

Then, I felt the further need to help her with the full gospel of believing and baptism based on Mark 16:16 and explained to her the importance of baptism. But I left the choice to her and never expected that she should choose to take baptism immediately.

After hearing me speak all this while, she asked a blunt question, "Do you trust people easily? Should people deceive you for their gain, shouldn't you be scared?" My reply was simple and plain. I relied, "Whoever the Lord brought to meet me in the meeting hall of the church or my home or office, I take it as from the Lord. There are thousands and millions of people outside, but only few, in fact, just a handful were brought to me. To such, I have full trust, no matter who they are and what their intentions may be." This reply took her by surprise and her trust in my words grew as I could read from her face. Later, as a sister asked her about what she had heard and about baptism, she decided to be baptised. And we baptised her! Praise the Lord!

This was a very unexpected salvation and baptism. God forgive me if I stated this wrongly. But I really meant it. It was very unexpected, at least to my feeling. Because she had been to many religious and superstitious beliefs and practices. I naturally thought that she would need more time to consider her baptism. But the Lord’s salvation is powerful. She was fully subdue and convinced to be baptised. It was the Lord’s work of salvation. Praise the Lord! I dare not hinder the Lord’s move in a person. So, the baptism was unexpected yet the Lord made it happen. It is indeed the Lord’s desire for all men to be saved! So it was.

1 Timothy 2:3-7

3. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God, 

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

5. For there is one God and one Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 

6. Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to be borne in its own times. 

7. For which I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I speak the truth; I do not lie), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 

Live-in Relationship?

A couple was contacted by the saints and started coming to attend the Lord’s table meeting and other regular meetings of the church, as they are already believers. Yet, they have not been living the normal Christian life for years. So, having realized the seriousness of relationship between male and female who are not yet married, as responsible brothers, we decided to help the couple and shepherd them for their going on in their Christian life and church life. As they were being shepherded, it was brought to my notice about their joblessness and financial difficulties clubbed together with the live-in relationship they have been in for a couple of months now. In fellowship we, brothers, felt good to shepherd them in a very practical way.

First, we decided to help meet their basic need for essential items, especially, food. So we offered Rs.5000 which can last for a month for their food. Due to the present pandemic, they have been jobless for months and complete broke. The church responsibility is to take care of the needy ones, believers and unbelievers within our capcity. 

Second, we went to fellowship with the couple and shepherded them in a way of revealing to them the proper relationship to be maintained between male and female. Yes, they are boy friend and girl friend living together which is very common in a metropolitan society. And in fact, this has been an acceptable norm in this evil and sinful generation. But the word of God cannot be compromised. So we fellowshipped with them and offered to help them to legally get married and be a proper testimony in the church. While fellowshipping all these, never we did in a way of accusation though we condemn the immorality, we would rather shepherd the ones involved in it, to sin no more. However, we did not impose anything legally but gave them the opportunity to make their decision based on the truth of the Bible.

I personally am glad to come across such case, as I must learn in coordination with my brothers how to shepherd new ones with such background. As we spoke to them, we also showed them the way for them to grow in life, to enjoy the word of God, to pursue the truth, to learn to practice morning revival, to pray, to be in fellowship with the saints, and to be blended in the Body. The church is a home for the spiritually homeless, a school for spiritual education, and also a hospital for spiritual healing. With love and care, and yet with the reverential fear of the holy and righteous God, the new ones have to be shepherded. And that's the lesson I have been learning.

This indicent reminds me of John 8

John 8:3-11

3. And the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, 

4. They said to Him, Teacher, this woman has been caught committing adultery, in the very act. 

5. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do You say? 

6. But they said this to tempt Him, so that they might have reason to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote with His finger on the ground. 

7. But when they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. 

8. And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 

9. And when they heard that, they went out one by one, beginning with the older ones. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman stood where she was, in the midst. 

10. And Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? 

11. And she said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more. 

It is easy to religiously fall into the trap of Satan when new ones with such sinful background would be brought into the church. Without knowing the Lord in a very experiential way, it is tempting to fall into moral ground and apply the comandment of God legally. Yes, sin must be condemned, but sinners must be loved and shepherded. This is a precious lesson in shepherding the saints while bearing responsibilities in a local church.

1 Timothy 1:15

Faithful is the word and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. 

The Lord's heart has always been to save sinners.

Mark 2:17

And when Jesus heard this, He said to them, Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are ill; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. 

May the Lord shepherd this couple and gain them!

First Home Meeting in Coonoor

Today being Lord’s day I attended the church service where my brother and their family members have been meeting with for decades. Though it was a very traditional religious meeting in Tamil, I still chose to attend it as I felt necessary at least to meet with the believers on the Lord’s day. I always do my best to attend the meeting especially on the Lord’s day wherever I travel. If there was no local church raised up yet, I chose any Christian group where I could attend, whether invited or not. All the children of God,  irrespective of their denominations, are my brothers and sisters in the Lord. They all meet and do things as per the vision and revelation they have seen. Only if the Lord allows me to minister I would most gladly do it, otherwise, I simply maintain the relationship in Christ and extend a welcome hand of fellowship to all children of God. 

In the meeting as I entered, I saw a notice commanding, "Switch Off Mobile". My conscience touched me to obey the command that I willingly submit myself to. And also I listened to the Tamil message though I did not understand it at all. I willingly came to attend the meeting and I must submit to the authority I entered into. There is authority everywhere, and as a child of God I must respect God appointed authority. I faithfully followed the order of service during the meeting though I understood hardly anything. It was my rightful duty to submit. They have done their best according to what they have understood, and since I willingly came ot attend their meeting, I must also willingly submit to all the decorum of the group. What a lesson the Lord taught me! Though I did not understand the Tamil message, the Lord taught me a very important message.

After the meeting I willingly went to my brother's home for more fellowship though not planned at all. It turned out to be the best thing I could have done. I and my brother's father fellowshiped on some very urgent and practical matters: Being revived everyday through calling on the Lord’s name, spending time with the Lord and prayer, and studying the word of God and fellowship. The family with whom I fellowshiped were so supplied. I could foresee this as the beginning of the church life in Coonoor.

A brother asked me a very practical question on how to overcoming an addiction which has been practiced for decades. My simple fellowship was to take care of the intake of the Lord as his daily spiritual food which will energize him and make him grow to overcome the addiction. He was so enlightened by this fellowship. In fact, this is what I learned from years of experience too. Only the Lord is the Overcomer and only by eating Him we can be constituted with His life and nature to be an overcomer. I appreciate his frankness in asking me this question and the fellowship was so sweet.

Later, we had a family time together where I fellowshipped on being revived everyday and the need to grow in life. All the rest will follow suit as a result of our growth in life. Then, we sang Tamil songs and prayed together. It was a sweet and wonderful time of fellowship. I see this as the beginning of the practical church life in Coonoor.

Praise the Lord!

Marriage Meeting and Fellowship

Today I attended the marriage meeting of my brother VJ in Coonoor. It was indeed the Lord’s arrangement that I could make it to the wedding. The marriage was done in a Christian tradition in a CSI church where the family has been a member for decades. All the minute detail of the marriage was carefully crafted and the oneness of the family members in this matter is praise worthy. The entire family stood together for this purpose. 

To the surprise of many, the message delivered by a very senior brother as a wedding message was also on the mystery of Christ. It was yesterday that I ministered in the prayer meeting of the family, the great mystery, Christ and the church. Today, the preacher also touched on the same subject on the mystery of God in Ephesians 5. One thing was clear, the Lord wants to recover His testimony among His many chosen people, the church, as the mystery of Christ. Whether the congregation received the revelation or not, I have no idea. But one thing was sure, indirectly the Lord has spoken that He would gain the couple and the entire relatives for His testimony.

The Scriptures reading portion for the wedding is Psalms 128

1. Blessed is everyone who fears Jehovah, / Who walks in His ways. 

2. You will indeed eat the labor of your hands; / You will be blessed, and it will go well with you. 

3. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine / In the innermost parts of your house. / Your children will be like olive shoots / Round about your table. 

4. Thus will the man be blessed / Who fears Jehovah. 

5. Jehovah bless you from Zion; / And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem / All the days of your life. 

6. May you also see the children of your children. / Peace be upon Israel. 

As the Scriptures were read out, verse 5 caught my attention. This blessing is a blessing of the church life. The blessing of God is in the church and from the church. Jehovah bless you from Zion. And the prosperity is also related to the local church signified by Jerusalem. This blessing is for the church life all the days of their life. And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem / All the days of your life. 

May the Lord indeed fulfill His promised blessing upon my dear brother and his newly wedded wife for Christ and His church.

Observing at the family, my appreciation was deeply for my brother's father and mother. Though I don't know them much, I could discern that they sincerely loves the Lord and have brought up their son in the best possible way they could. Simple, sincere, and sweet are the words I use to describe their family. Such seekers and lovers of the Lord surely deserves to see the vision of the great mystery, Christ and the church. May the Lord gain them for His testimony in Coonoor one day!

Tonight at the wedding reception, I could fellowship with the brother and sister as they start their marriage life beginning from today on the matter of being one flesh as husband and wife.

Genesis 2:24

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 

Ephesians 5:28-31

28. In the same way the husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his own wife loves himself. 29. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also the church, 30. Because we are members of His Body. 31. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. 

I encouraged and exhorted them to pray together everyday from day one. Prayer preserves the oneness between husband and wife. In fact, the only oneness in the universe is God Himself. Through prayer, the oneness of God can infuse Himself into them and make them one. In this regard I also encouraged them to pursue oneness by all means, and practice it in evey matter big or small, including the oneness in financial management of the family as well. I shared my testimony of how the Lord preserved and blessed my oneness with my wife and how we pursue and treasure the oneness. Besides, I also shared the importance of love who is God Himself, Christ Himself. Apart from the love of God, there is no genuine love. Only the love of God can make them love one another with the love of God unto eternity. Then, having thus released my burden, I prayed for the oneness and love between them.

May the Lord bless this couple for His testimony!

The Great Mystery

This mystery is great, but I speak with regard to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:32

The Lord's speaking in the prayer meeting of the family gathering of a brother a day before his marriage is "Christ and the church, the great mystery." This meeting was an impromptu arrangement and the decision for me to minister the word was just arranged the day after I was confirmed to attend the wedding meeting on 28th Nov. Today is the 27th Nov.

It was 23 Nov, last Monday night that I received a message from a brother, who is the bridegroom to be, that he and his dad wanted me to attend the wedding meeting. Though I had no plan to attend considering the situation this weekend with Thanksgiving Conference, Gospel Meeting, Young People Meeting and Young People Gospel Meeting with a pre-training fellowship on Monday and the the Full-timers' training following. On top of all these, the spread of Covid-19 and the risk of traveling added more reasons not to travel, and also with my children exams coming up. But, on that night as I went out to pray as usual, for over an hour I could pray only for one matter, concerning this brother's marriage, and nothing else. I was indeed struggling for sometime until the Lord made it clear to me. Finally, at the end of the prayer I was confirmed deep within that I should definitely attend the wedding meeting, despite all odds. The Lord has a purpose for me to be there, therefore, l decided to attend.

Once I was clear and I told my wife about it, she also agreed in fellowship, though she was hesitant before. Then, I confirmed to the brother. Immediately, travel arrangement were made, though I tried to meet my own traveling expenses, the brother requested me that he would bear all the expenses. Then flight tickets were booked for round trip, Delhi-Coimbatore. And all other practical arrangements were made immediately. All practical matters felt into place one by one.

It was the Lord arranging everything for His divine purpose. As I was informed that I need to minister the word, I looked to the Lord for the word. First, the Lord showed me to minister on a Christian life, then He further showed me on the church, and finally the message with Bible verses became very clear. Then it was very clear to me that I should minister on the great mystery, Christ and the church. The Lord confirmed it during my prayer time and Bible reading time the following days.

A burden brought in the light, and the light developed into a revelation, and the revelation developed into words, and the words into a message. The message was based on these Bible verses:

Ephesians 5: 22-33

Colosians 1:26-29; 2:2; 4:3, 

Ephesians 3:4-6

Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16

Today, as instructed and burdened by the Lord, I ministered the word in a pre-wedding prayer meeting before the marriage. The message was on the mystery of God, Christ, and the mystery of Christ, the church. I expounded on the Christ, the Christian life, and the church. After the meeting, brothers and sisters came to fellowship with me on their being supplied by the ministry of the word. The bride's father came to fellowship with me personally that the moment he heard the word he was so thankful for the timely word. His concept was completely changed after he heard the word. Initially he thought it was needless for a "Pastor" to sermon, but it turned out that a brother ministered the timely word. Another brother came and testified to me that his vision after studying Acts has been confirmed by the message spoken tonight. I promised to introduce him to the brothers in the church in Chennai. 

May the Lord continue to sow Himself as the Seed of the divine life to all who heard the word for His testimony in Coonoor and to all the localities where these relatives have come from.

Praise and glory be to Him!