Time with my family is one thing I treasure very much. I do this whenever I am at home by gathering all my family members for family prayer. I even made family prayer top priority in my family life. I would sacrifice other things just for this. Even if I were traveling, I still called home over the phone for family prayer. It is only the Lord that can build my family and I cooperate with Him by paying the price to gather all family members for family prayer time everyday. In addition, I also repeatedly remind all my family members for daily personal prayer time at least for half an hour. If I were at home I would take my children, especially my son, to the park for prayer and for walking.
Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Time with Family
Continuous Dispensing
On the 21st of February, I just came back from a long ministry literature journey. And there awaited me, three days of training and three days of conference, after which another journey I have to undertake. I knew this would happen while I was back from the last journey. Therefore, in the train itself, I did whatever need to be done so that I could fully be available to receive the Lord's divine dispensing again.
For three days I had the opportunity to exercise to join a training in New Delhi where the first session began at 6:00 AM in the morning till 7:00 PM in the evening. During these three days, I opened myself to Lord for His divine work within me again to receive the Lord's continual dispensing.
The brothers' ministering of the word was on the living and working out of the New Jerusalem where our Christian life and church life today should be according to the standard of the New Jerusalem. The Lord's speaking was so deep and it touched my inward being and the attitude I have towards the Lord and my daily living for the church life. One key point that struck me was, "What is the nature of my work? Am I a part of the shining golden lampstand in reality?" Any work acceptable to the Lord must be according to God's divine nature. Therefore, the nature of the work that I do must be according to God's divine nature and the life that I live must be Christ Himself!
Through which He has granted to us precious and exceedingly great promises that through these you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world by lust. 2Peter 1:4
For they disciplined for a few days as it seemed good to them; but He, for what is profitable that we might partake of His holiness. Hebrews 12:10
For another foundation no one is able to lay besides that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stubble, the work of each will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because it is revealed by fire, and the fire itself will prove each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built upon the foundation remains, he will receive a reward; If anyone’s work is consumed, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.1 Corinthians 3:11-15
We are God's fellow workers, and we must do the work of God according to God, building upon the foundation with gold, silver, and precious stones which is the experience of the Divine Trinity!
O how short I am as I measure myself with the standard that God desires. Nonetheless, I am not the one working the work of the Lord but the Lord Himself working out His work in me and through me as His fellow worker. I am God's coworker, altogether with many fellows coworkers in the Lord's vineyard.
As I was so impressed by the message, I began to compose a hymn based on the messages released by the speaking brothers, a hymn on the New Jerusalem, not merely the truth as revealed in the Bible but how the New Jerusalem can be experienced and enjoyed by me along with others in the church life today.
Right after the training, there was a conference on the burden of making ourselves ready for the Lord's coming back. The speaking brothers gave five practical ways of preparation.
By loving the Lord and His appearance in contrast to loving the present age and turning away from the apostles' teaching and work.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day, and not only me but also all those who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8
For Demas has abandoned me, having loved the present age, and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia. 2 Timothy 4:10
Therefore be long-suffering, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer eagerly awaits the precious fruit of the earth, exercising long-suffering over it until it receives the early and late rain. James 5:7
And we have the prophetic word made more firm, to which you do well to give heed as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19
He who testifies these things says, Yes, I come quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20
Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Matthew 24:45-46
By having a revived living and labor in shepherding. I must daily be renewed daily through:
The cross (2 Cor. 4:10-12, 16-18),
Always bearing about in the body the putting to death of Jesus that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who are alive are always being delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death operates in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:10
The Holy Spirit
Not out of works in righteousness which we did but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5
The exercise of my mingled spirit
And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (Eph. 4:23)
And by the cleansing of the water in the word.
That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word. (Eph. 5:26)
He who overcomes, to him I will give to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21
Therefore this is what I will do to you, O Israel; And because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel. Amos 4:12
I have been blessed to be under the continuous divine dispensing of the Divine Trinity whether I travel or am at home. Praise the Lord!
Ministry Journey to Betul, Madhya Pradesh
Early morning at about 2 AM our train arrive at Ghoradongri for two days visit to Betul district, Madhya Pradesh. This trip was planed in the our last trip to the same localities. The Lord has prepared a group of believers through a brother for us to minister the word. We have been conducting online meetings over a year for these group of believers. This time, our burden is to strengthen the key brothers and pave the way for further recovery of the Lord’s move in Madhya Pradesh.
Monday, 20 February 2023
Marvelous Brotherly Fellowship
Today morning I sent a text message to two brothers with whom I have been coordinating for the ministry journey to Champa and Korba.
Dear Brothers(J--- and B---)Today afternoon Br. J--- fellowshipped about the possibility of meeting Br. R-- K--. After Br. J--- left, Br.A--- and I had a time of fellowship on this regard and he felt good about setting things right between him and R-- K--. He asked me to fellowship with R-- K-- which I did, and both are willing to meet and fellowship. Therefore, today Monday, 20th Feb, Br. A--- and I will visit Br. R-- K-- at his house in Bilaspur.Please pray for the fellowship that the peace of Christ may arbitrate in their hearts and gain them and all the churches and the saints under their shepherding care for His economy.
“Do not call to mind the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Indeed, I am doing a new thing; It will now spring forth; Do you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19, RecVer)
Salvation of a Sibling
Yesterday night, I had a time of fellowship with a brother's family, ministering the word of God mainly to his children who were not clear about their salvation. To me, this was a matter of helping them with the relevant portion of the word of God.
“The opening of Your words gives light, Imparting understanding to the simple.” (Psalms 119:130, RecVer)
“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:16, RecVer)“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name,” (John 1:12, RecVer)“That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;” (Romans 10:9, RecVer)“For “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”” (Romans 10:13, RecVer)
Ministry Journey to Chhattisgarh
“Now after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brothers in every city in which we announced the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” (Acts 15:36, RecVer)
In fellowship and coordination, three of us brothers came to visit the church in Champa last week, to meet with the saints and the leading brothers. We had three meetings with the saints and released the burden on God’s economy with the emphasis on the Triune God dispensing Himself into the tripartite man, the way to enjoy the Lord’s dispensing as an open vessel by calling upon the Lord’s name, eating His words day by day, emphasing on the trunk of God’s economy and not being distracted by various "branches and leaves." In all the meetings, we ourselves were in one accord, following the Lord’s inner leading, and ministered the word with the exercise of our spirit. I personally enjoyed the Lord’s inner flow of life among us and through us.
Monday, 13 February 2023
Fellowship With the Saints in Bilaspur
Whenever
we attended the Christian Festival in Madku Dweep-Bilaspur, we
used to spend time with the believers who are gathered together as "the
church in Bilaspur." This time, we had no plan to visit them, at least for
two reasons. One being, our lodging place was not in Bilaspur but in Batapara,
nearer to the venue for the Christian Festival. The other being the lack of
clarity on the standing of the brothers in Bilaspur with a report of them not
being very open for fellowship. Therefore, we had no plan to visit them nor did
we have any other plan either. Our schedule was vague, waiting for the Lord’s
timely leading.
Last Saturday, the key brother came to visit our
bookstall. He had come the day before too when I was still on my way, and as my
train was delayed I could not meet him. When I heard that this brother had come
and we could not meet him, I thought we truly would miss the fellowship this
time. But he came again the next day and we met.
For two hours, we fellowshipped in front of our stall amidst the noisy, dusty, and crowdy atmosphere. As we were fellowshipping, I exercised my spirit discerning what the Lord wanted me to hear or say or do. This brother had spoken many things about his past experience with some brothers. I just listened and listened, and simply told him that these were the things of the past. But as I asked him about what transpired at the present time, he had no answer. I also directly asked him if he ever rejected a brother in the past sent to visit them, he denied the charge. He also inquired whether we had the plan to visit them this time. I replied that we had no plan. Then, he invited us to visit them. On a second thought, I also checked with my brother, and therefore, we agreed to visit them, "the church in Bilaspur."
As I prayed to the Lord on Saturday night for the visiting of the saints in Bilaspur on the Lord’s day, the Lord gave me one burden, to help the saints to use the Holy Word for Morning Revival to be revived every day and brought into the fellowship of the Body through the enjoyment of the ministry of the word. As we visited the saints on the Lord’s day, the brothers gave us time to minister the word. As usual, my brother went first, and he released the very burden the Lord gave me with; to help the saints get constituted with the ministry of the word through the pursuing of the Holy Word for Morning Revival.
The burden was clear, the need for re-education to be constituted with the truth after coimg out of Babylon to express the Lord according to His purpose. We used the book of Ezra and Nehemiah and ministered the timely word to help educate the saints and the practical way to do so by coordination and all the saints functioning.
“And all the people gathered as one man in the open area that was before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read in it before the open area that was before the Water Gate from first light until midday in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a wooden platform that had been made for that purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Uriah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah at his right hand; and at his left hand, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah and Hashum and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people); and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed Jehovah the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites helped the people understand the law; and the people stood in their place. And they read in the book, in the law of God, interpreting and giving the sense, so that they understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who helped the people understand said to all the people, This day is holy unto Jehovah your God; do not mourn or weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, Go your way; eat the fat, and drink the sweet wine, and send portions to him for whom nothing has been prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Be quiet, for the day is holy; and do not be grieved. And all the people went their way to eat and to drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” (Nehemiah 8:1-12, RecVer)
After the Lord’s day meeting, we also had a time
of fellowship on The Genuine Ground of Oneness using the
history of Israel and the Lord’s desire for oneness and emphatically made clear
the need for fellowship in the Body of Christ. Local administrative matters may
be local indeed, but fellowship must be universal. The brothers readily agreed
and even decided to visit the churches in Delhi and Gurugram. Besides, we also
helped the brothers with life practices of calling upon the Lord’s name and
pray-reading the word of God.
The next day we had a morning time touring Bilaspur city, breakfast at Indian Coffee House, and a visit to a city park. On the way, we had a wonderful time of fellowship and blending. Then we left for our next destination.
As a result of this visit and short while fellowship with the key brothers, many unseen distances between us were removed and a cloudy situation among us was cleared off. We had much peace concerning the saints in Bilapsur now. Much peace and freedom have filled us inwardly. I believe, the Lord is recovering His remnants and His testimony in this city.
Lord, recovering Your lampstand in Bilaspur!