Advanced New Year!

New year is a time when there is a new beginning. Be it a new calendar year, new month, new week, new day, new hour, new minute, and even new second. It is the state of the inner attitude with the reality of newness. But is is not an overstretched or understretched time event. Spiritually, it is the experinece of the newness of God. This is my understanding of newness. 

Though the beginning of calendar new year is definitely a new year, it must also be the experience of the newness of God in our Christian living. This time, even before the calendar new year began, I experienced the new year already! 

Last Monday, the 25th of Dec 2023, the brothers in the church in Gurugram came together for prayer and fellowship. We enjoyed a solid, strong, and sweet hour of prayer together in oneness and one accord. The burdens of the church blessed by God have all been released with a strong spirit. Even as we fellowshipped on practical matters related to the church, the Lord made things very clear as was never before. I could perceive what the Lord wanted to do in the city of Gurugram through His church. Things became very clear as we prayed and fellowshipped in one accord. Especially, the burden of the increase in the church has been made vividly clear.

As we fellowshipped, the Lord also made the way to fulfill the burden with all clarity. No cloud of confusion as was in the past lingered over our head. We were all very clear the way we need to take in order to fulfill the burden the Lord bestowed upon His church. I even echoed this matter to the brothers with much joy. By faith, I even declared that the church's strength in number will triple, if not more. This was not presumptuous, not a mere dream, but a reality achievable in time if we follow the way shown to us. 

As the fellowship was on, I mentally listed all the saints and contacts in three different areas we plan to spread to. I could count at least ten families in each area. Even when I calculated further the strength in each area, I could count at least a score or two. Totalling upto to a century which has also been the goal for the local church in a city in NCR. This is very much achievable. Not humanly boasting, but the Lord has shown us the way. Which if we coordinate with Him, He will definitely do it.

The way entailed the formation of vital groups among brothers in each area. These brothers being blended and builded up must shepherd one another and other younger or newer brothers in the Lord. This is the preparation of the structure for the building of the church. Then, others saints in those areas can be added in gradually. Besides, the maintaining and reading of the church's statistics should be the reading of the saints issuing in shepherding. Therefore, caring for the new ones to the extend of adopting home delivery of spiritual food to the saints in need, regular home meeting and group meeting with the help of the Life-studies. Shepherding Materials, HWMRs, and relevant ministry materials. In this way, the increase can be brought forth in a very define way.

After this fellowship, all my "cloudy burden" for the church which I have been bearing in my heart with much heaviness has been lifted up! To me, it's a new year! It's an advanced new year! Perhaps, new year has arrived earlier. 

Lord, thank You for the new year with new burden and new way!

Not I But Christ

“I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20, RecVer)

This is one of my favourite verses in the Bible. I have memorized this verse since the beginning of my Christian life. I have been fellowshipping, preaching, and teaching based on this verse umpteen number of times in many occasions at any places. But just a few days ago, the Lord showed my the real intrinsic meaning of this verse in a very personal and subjective way.

I can preach and I can teach others on this verse even with much clarity and conviction. But only recently, I could truly experience from the depth of my being the reality of this verse. It was the mercy of the Lord that I finally could experience the depth of this verse. 

I have been spending time with the Lord in prayer daily at a specific time. In my personal and intimate fellowship with the Lord, He show me that I indeed am nothing. Whatever has been accomplished apparently through me was actually not of me at all. Even if I ever happen to be a channel, still the actual one who accomplishes is Him only. Though I acknowledge this fact in the past, I still used to think, something of me has a part in it too. Well, that is true for God’s move is in and through man. But it is purely of God who shows mercy on the vessel He pleases to choose. The fact that He happens to choose me when He could have chosen many others is a good enough reason to realize that it was, I am not but Christ.

In the past, if I had a good living and an acceptable work at least to my own satisfaction, I still thought that something "good in me" was used by God. Though I would never acknowledge this fact openly, deep within there indeed was the feeling. So somehow, something good in me had influence on the outcome of the works accomplished. This was the hidden feeling. But now, the Lord has shown me that even in the depth of my failures, still He accomplishes His work. If it was so when I felt my living was good and proper I would somehow infer that because of my goodness the Lord pleased to use me. But now when I had the opposite experience; when I was at my lowest pit and utter sinful and shameful failure, still He uses me as when I was in my height of goodness. This proves to me that, my so called goodness or badness was not the criteria for Him to use me. Whatever my condition may be, He is still the same. In my goodness, He is. In my badness, He is. In whatever state I am in, He still is the same. So, it is not me at all, it is Christ. He is sovereign to choose whomever He wishes. Ultimately, His work is done by Him only, though through man.

Last Lord’s day, we had the last gospel meeting for the year 2023. The brothers arranged the strengthening word as my portion. In fact, this was the first time I ever participated in the gospel meeting this year. Deep within, I wish other brothers could function instead of me. That's why, I had been trying to let other brothers function more and begin to pass the baton of responsibility whatever I used to hold to other brothers. But this arrangement was made in my absence even without my consent, I accepted the Lord’s arrangement.

This time, I ceased to depend on my experience or anything related to me. I only prayed that He would speak His timely word. I am just a channel, nothing more nothing less. Yes, just a channel. I ceased from any kind of human effort to influence the outcome of this meeting. I have completely stopped that. Let the Lord speak. Let Him do His work. Not me. This was my genuine feeling and this was how I prepared for this gospel meeting. I could testify, I had not exerted any human effort this time as I used to do before. When the time came for me to function, I just let the Lord speak and follow His leading. The conclusion of the gospel meeting was, it was strong in spirit. All the saints and new ones were led to come to Jesus! This taught me one very important lesson, "Not I But Christ".

O what a relieve to learn this lesson finally! O what a grace to learn that it is not I but Christ! O what a salvation from self this is! O what a blessing to live Christ and not I!

Life Lesson: Learning to Follow

The accomplishment of work is either by leading to do the work or following the leading or both. One lesson that I have been learning these days is learning to follow the leading. Though for many official tasks I have been taking the initiative to do the work in fellowship and coordination with my co-working brother, there are many other areas where I simply follow the leading through the brothers especially those related to the church and the propagation work. It has been a blessing for me to simply follow the brothers' leading. I could think of no better leading. 

The past three weeks there was an intensified propagation in Gurugram. For the practical detail of where and how to propagate, I had no opinion of my own. I was not even in a position to participate as I desired too. My official and family responsibility occupied me so much. But when I did join on the weekends, I simply followed the brothers, young or old. It was a blessing to just follow who has the leading.

This reminds me of the testimony of a brother who testified that when he was about to leave a country where he served due to lack of clarity on how to lead the saints, a brother fellowshipped with him that if he did not know how to lead or what the Lord’s leading was, he should simply listen to the saints and follow the Lord's leading through the saints. Then he took that fellowship and listened to what the saints had to say. Just by listening to the saints he knew what the leading of the Lord was, at that time in that place.

Many ambitious people would prefer to lead than follow. To follow for them is to be under someone and their pride would not tolerate the humiliation of following. Pride blinds people. If one does not know how to lead, or even if he did know, it is a blessing to follow the Lord's leading through our fellow members of the Body. 

As the brothers in the church came together to fellowship on the Lord’s move in our city and how we could participate in it, I felt very blessed to listen to the brothers' fellowship and simply follow. If I had any leading from the Lord concerning any matter I would present it or the brothers in fellowship. If I did not have one, I simply listen to the brothers and follow His leading through them. This was my experience last weekend. I felt very blessed that I can participate in the Lord’s move in this city in coordination with the brothers. In a similar manner, in all matters related to my official responsibility, the church, or the propagation of the gospel, I simply learn to listen to the fellowship and also learn to follow the leading of the Lord.

If I had any feeling concerning any matter during the fellowship, I present it to the brothers. Yet simply follow their leading whether my fellowship was taken or not. And I had no feeling whether my fellowship was regard or not. We are in the Body and in whichever we were led, I simply follow. In following is the coordination and the blessing. The Lord blesses the Body serving in coordination and in one accord.

May the Lord preserve me, the brothers, and all the saints to blend and build up with one another to the extend that we all in oneness follow the Lord's leading through the fellowship of the Body. 

Accept the Fact

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

The Lord has been teaching me an important lesson on His sovereignty these days. As the gospel preaching was planned in the city of Gurugram with the coordination of the trainees and the saints in the church life, I really wanted to participate in it. But when the plan was first proposed and brought to fellowship, I already had my schedule fixed for the ministry literature journey. I could not change my plan. But still I decided to join the gospel preaching after coming back. As a matter of fact, I even signed a consecration sheet to join the gospel preaching on the afternoons and the evening sessions of the last two weeks as I would already miss the first week. That was the plan that belonged to me.

When I came back from the ministry literature journey, I was very tired and fell ill. I took rest for the whole day and my official works were pending. I could not join the gospel preaching as I planned. In addition, I need to finish urgent official works and submitted the yearly budget. For that, I need to look into the financial need of all the serving ones along with the next year plan for translation, printing, and distribution of the ministry literature. And I also need to sit together with my coordinating brother to go through all the minute points which we did and finally submitted the budget. Right after this, other host of pending works made me busy again. Then, the second week was over. Though I could help the saints in driving them to the gospel preaching venue, I myself could not participate with them. The plan that belonged to me did not work again.

In the final third week, I thought I could join, but then I was tied up with my official duty fully on Monday. I thought, at least, by Tuesday I could join, but there was the sudden demise of a brother in the church in New Delhi. Therefore, I need to attend the funeral. So the whole day was gone. The following Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, similar official works crept in and I just could not find the time at all. I cannot leave my official duty and go for gospel preaching. Though I was able to join on Saturdays as I usually do, other weekdays, though I planned it, it just did not work out. I had no way but to simply accept the fact of the situation I was in. Even the third week was gone. I had my plan, just that it didn't work out.

Some brothers might feel something about me not joining the gospel preaching this time, but the fact was that I just could not make it. I did not want to justify myself either. Unavoidable circumstances did not allow me. Besides, I also felt other brothers can take the responsibility in all practical matters related to the gospel preaching. In the past, whenever I was there, somehow, like it or not, some chunk of responsibility I always bore. This time, I believe it is the Lord’s arrangement for other brothers to bear the same burden. As for me, I will just join them on the weekends. I simply have to accept the fact. And that's the Lord’s sovereign arrangement. 

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

Son of Abraham

As usual, every Wednesday night the brothers from Madhya Pradesh invited me to minister the word on their online meeting. I initially would not prepare unless I get the confirmation call. The call came just before half an hour from the meeting time. Since it came, I agreed to it. But was not clear what to minister then. Though I tried to follow a sequence of lesson from a book, I did not have the anointing to do for every lesson. The Lord knew the actual situation of the people joining the meeting online. So I denied my own arrangement and followed the Lord’s instant leading. The Lord has been faithfully leading me whenever I needed to minister the word. This time too, as I looked to the Lord for what to minister, I was led to Genesis 22 concerning the test to Abraham to offer up his only begotten and beloved Issaac. As I read the verses ans the footnotes, flood light came gushing upon me. I knew exactly what to minister now. The Lord gave me the message.

With the Lord’s word that was given to me and also according to the season of the times, I ministered on the Lord Jesus Christ using the way He was introduced in the Gospel of Matthew, as the son of Abraham. 

“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:” (Matthew 1:1, RecVer)

I expounded this phrase in Matthew 1:1, "son of Abraham" with the notes from Genesis 22, and came forth with a wonderful message on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Note from the Recovery Version on Genesis 22:2

Abraham’s offering of his beloved and only son, Isaac, on the altar is a vivid picture of God the Father’s offering of His beloved and only Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. In this picture Isaac typifies Christ in a detailed way. Isaac, as Abraham’s only son (vv. 2, 12, 16), typifies Christ as God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16). Isaac was Abraham’s beloved son (v. 2), and Christ was the Father’s beloved Son, in whom He delighted (Matt. 3:17). Isaac took his father’s will (v. 6), and Christ also chose the will of His Father (Matt. 26:39). Isaac was obedient unto death (vv. 9-10); likewise, Christ was obedient unto death (Phil. 2:8). Isaac carried the wood for the burnt offering and walked to the top of Mount Moriah (v. 6); in the same way, Christ bore His cross and walked to Golgotha (John 19:17). Isaac was offered to God as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah; Christ also was offered to God on the same mountain (see note 1 1 in Mark 10) to fulfill the type of the burnt offering. Isaac was “killed” on the altar and was returned to Abraham on the third day, that is, in resurrection (vv. 4, 10-13; Heb. 11:19); similarly, Christ was crucified on the cross and was resurrected on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4). Isaac was multiplied in resurrection (v. 17), and Christ also was multiplied in His resurrection (John 12:24; 1 Pet. 1:3). Isaac was the seed of Abraham for the blessing of all the nations (v. 18); likewise, Christ is the unique seed of Abraham in whom the blessing of Abraham has come to the nations (Gal. 3:8, 14, 16).

The above notes, I split it upto ten points and proved that Isaac is a type of Christ in the Old Testament. Today, in the New Testament, we have the fulfillment of the prophecies and the reality of the types in the Old Testament. I myself enjoyed this exposition so much as I ministered on these points, ministering on the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a new light to me. Though I used to introduce the Recovery Version using the note on "son of Abraham" some three or four points l, but not as amany as ten points in detail. Thank the Lord for His timely words! Thank the Lord for the properly translated and Interpretated word of God!  

I do not know what will become of all these ones who have been attending the online meetings, but I do know that the Lord has been working on them through the ministry of the word. Only the Lord know what will become of all these brothers and sisters who have been receiving the ministry of the word. Only time will tell the effect of this ministry. Till then, I simply must be faithful to minister the healthy words.

Lord, bless Your word.

Two Funerals

The day before yesterday I received a message from a brother who is also a translator informing me of the demise of his father. His father had been ill for quite some time, in fact, seriously ill that at one point the family lost all hope. The doctors discharged him with no hope ever, and the family took him home just to wait for his demise. But our brother prayed for his father and at least for a moment he regained his health back. But this did not last too long, and the sad news of the demise came. My innate reaction was, I called up my brother, listened to what he had to say, comforted him, and also prayed with him. In times of sorrow, I should stand with him though from a distance. He has been up and down as far as following the ministry is concerned, but nonetheless he is a dear brother in the Lord and I still maintain my fellowship with him as a brother. Despite his opinion about us an the ministry, he is still a brother in the Lord. Therefore, during this difficult time, I did my best to stand with him and even help him in whatever way I could. Later, in fellowship with my coordinator, we felt good to assist him at least for the funeral expenses of his father. So we offer ten thousand rupees as a token of love and comfort during this time of grief and urgent need to this brother and his family. Words did comfort, but much more, practical help like offering comforts too. Leaving all his views and opinion about the Lord's recovery aside, he is still a dear brother in the Lord. As much as the Lord permits me to be fellowship with him, I will do so faithfully. I do pray that one day he will be fully for Christ and the church. 

One day, all will need to face the tomb unless the Lord returns before our time ends. One thought that crossed my mind was, before that day comes, I better grow in life and be matured to have a complete conclusion.

Ep 1:18The 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.

Note from the Recovery Version: The hope of God’s calling includes (1) Christ Himself and the salvation He will bring to us when He comes back (Col. 1:27; 1 Pet. 1:5, 9); (2) the rapturous transfer from the earthly and physical realm to the heavenly and spiritual sphere, plus glorification (Rom. 8:23-25, 30; Phil. 3:21); (3) the kingly enjoyment with Christ in the millennium (Rev. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:18); and (4) the consummate enjoyment of Christ in the New Jerusalem, with the universal and eternal blessings in the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1-7; 22:1-5).

On the same day, I received another message from another translator that his sister's father-in-law went to be with the Lord. Since it was just a distant relationship, I initially thought it was not important to attend his funeral meeting. But my dear broher and coordinator fellowshipped that we better attend the funeral representing the church. Though I initially questioned the need for it, I later realised that it was during this time of grief, pain, and sorrow that we put our church life to a practical test. Then, I obliged to the fellowship, and we went to attend this funeral in North Delhi. Though we could not do much, we at least showed our support by being physically present at the funeral meeting. We did offer prayer for the family at the tomb. And stood in oneness with the saints in the church in New Delhi to take care of all the practical needs of the family. We also offered some amount on behalf of the church and handed it over to the church in New Delhi to consdier the best use of it concerning this family.

Rm 12:12Rejoice in hope; endure in tribulation; persevere in prayer.

Rm 12:13Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality.

May the God of all comfort comfort the two families. May those of us who still remain look away unto Him, the hope of glory.

Ministry of the Word to Kolkata

Kolkata is one of the metro cities we have been praying for. For decades we have been burdened for this city. A couple of ministry and gospel trips have been undertaken. Yet till date, the testimony of the Lord on the ground of oneness is still just in prayer. This city was planned this time as brothers from Chennai were to come too. But, at the last minute they could not make it due to the cancellation of their train because of the cyclone Michaung that flooded the city and caused havoc. Therefore, we planned to just meet my old classmate's family and some seekers.

In fact, when I sent out prayer requests, my classmate enquired if I could minister in their congregation on the Lord’s day, the day we planned to arrive the city, which happened to be their "Mission Sunday." But the Lord did not give me peace at all. So we decided not to accept the offer except to just come to visit the family.

As we spent time with my friend and brother's family in Kolkata, we had a wonderful time of fellowship on the truth concerning the Christian life and the history of the church, and the proper church life in the Lord’s recovery. My friend and his wife were very interested to learn more. They have opened their home for the ministry and in just a couple of hours we were able to meet whoever we need to meet in the city for this time of visit. At least for the day we were there, I told them that their house has become a "Mission Centre" which was their way of understanding what we call as propagation center. When I left, I sent a note of thanks to both my friend and his wife:

Thank you for your love, care, and hospitality. The Lord enabled us to accomplish our burden through your open home for the ministry as we could meet the key local Bengali contacts by inviting them at your home within  a span of few hours. 

Jehovah bless you and keep you; 

Jehovah make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

Jehovah lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

(Numbers 6:24-26, RecVer)

Thank you! Praise the Lord!

Even in our planning, we planned to visit a seeker but due to Uber cab booking cancellation we had to change our plan and asked the seekers to come to meet us instead. That turned out to be the Lord’s perfect plan as another seeker just came before the appointed time to meet with us. We enjoyed a time of fellowship, enjoyed lunch together, and also learned that the Lord opened a new door for His move in Kolkata among the local seekers. 

In the morning, a brother from Asansol called me to enquire my whereabouts and also to request for free Bengli books. As he learned that I was in Kolkata, he introduced me to his friend who later came to meet with us. And another local brother also joined us. Therefore, we all enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship as the two local Bengali speaking brothers shared their testimonies. Another new door was opened for the Lord’s further move in Kolkata.

After these meetings, I became quite clear what the Lord has been doing in Kolkata all these years. He has been preparing the local believers and gradually bringing the ministry to them and also introducing them to us. What we have been trying to do over the past decades, the Lord has been doing it in His way and at His time. Now, the time has come for us to reap the harvest. Now, with the churches in Tamilnadu picking the burden for Kolkata, the stage has been set for the raising up of the Lord’s testimony in Kolkata. 

On a lighter note, my departing flight from Kolkata was postponed thrice. I booked the last available flight from Kolkata to Delhi to give me sufficient time to meet people and minister during the day. This postponed flight gave me sufficient time to finish recording my experiences and also gave me enough time to enjoy dinner at the airport lounge. Even in little things, the Lord was sovereign over all! Praise Him!

Lord, raise up Your testimony in Kolkata!