The Lord's Supply

Taste and see that Jehovah is good; Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear Jehovah, you who are His saints; For there is no lack with those who fear Him. The young lions hunger and starve, But those who seek Jehovah will not lack any good thing. (Psalms 34:8-10, RecVer)

Jehovah is my Shepherd; I will lack nothing. (Psalms 23:1, RecVer) This should be the testimony of every children of God. The Lord is the Shepherd, He knows our need and He supplies it accordingly. Paul testifies, "And my God will fill your every need according to His riches, in glory, in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, RecVer)

Therefore, according to the truth and according to our normal experience of Christ, the Lord is indeed our Shepherd and He must meet every need. However, in some cases, this has not been the case. Sometimes, I wondered why some saints are always in lack. In the recent past, at least three cases of the Lord’s serving ones have told me their financial lack they had been through. All of them are serving full time. And to my understanding, they should have sufficient even according to the support they received. But the reality is completely different.  Perhaps, there is a hole in their relativity the Lord? Or they lack to fear God in their living and conduct? Only God knows. May He have mercy on us all.

When these brothers came to fellowship with me, I pray within that the Lord may supply their needs as He supplies me. I could not understand very well why the Lord’s serving ones need to go through this kind of lack to the extend that they have to even mention it to me knowing fully well that I can do nothing about it. I am not the supplier, only the Lord Jesus is. But as for me, though at times I may be in lack, the Lord always supplied me. In every lack, I experienced the Lord’s bountiful supply. So when I compared my self with these brothers, though I am no better than them in any way, I wondered why are they in lack? I always believe that the Lord can bountiful supply them as He supplies me. I can only sympathies with them and pray for them that the Lord would richly supply them. In fact, in some cases, I had to encourage them to trust the Lord and often shared my own testimony. 

Recently, the Lord supplied me bountiful. As usual, I would pray to the Lord to guide me how to share the blessing with others as well. When blessed financially, in addition to offering to the Lord, I would offer to the needy siants too. The Lord revealed two needy families and to them offering were made through the church. The Lord also reminded me of my own family in Manipur.  As the eldest son, I have not been able to do much to meet the family's need, but now and then when the Lord led me I would send offerings in the form of money. This time, the Lord gave me bountifully so I transferred a good amount to my father’s bank account. The same goes to my younger brother who has been taking care of our family in Imphal. As and when the Lord supplied, I shared the same to them. 

The Lord has been faithfully meeting all my needs and the needs of my family too. Even as the eldest son, it is proper to share in the family's burden. But I did so when the Lord led me and also supplied me.

This has been my experience of the Lord’s bountiful supply these days. I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good! He knows and He gives according to His riches. 

Thank you, Lord! You are my Shepherd! Supply Your children according to Your riches and according to Your promises. Let no servant of God be in lack, ever. The Lord supplies. Amen.

Ministry of the Word to Amritsar

In Amritsar, the Pastor contact we got from Tarn Tarn warmly welcomed us. Since we came late to meet him, we only had dinner and rested in a hotel booked for us by him. The reason for us being late was because we decided to visit Wagah border from Tarn Taran on Saturday itself. In the midst of our distribution tour, we often took a time out for some sightseeing if there indeed was something worth seeing and we had the time too.

Sightseeing 

Amritsar being the border of India Pakistan at Wagah, we came to visit Wagah border and witnessed the Indian Army BSF daily ceremony. The crowd was charged with voices of patriotism. The next day, we also had a glimpse of the golden temple from outside and Jallianwalla Bagh.

On the Lord’s day, we ministered to the believers of the Pastor's congregation. The burden the Lord gave us to release on breathing, drinking, and eating the Lord. We three brothers coordinated to minister the word in turn, within an hour's time. The believers were so supplied by the ministry. After which, we also distributed the books.

Since our burden was to meet the key Christian leaders, the Lord arranged a Pastor's meeting on the following day, Monday. As we attended the meeting, it was a pleasant surprise altogether. Later, I wrote a note to the brothers:

Today, we had a meeting with the Pastors and they made us their main speakers and guests without any prior information. Two politicians also joined the meeting. 

On their request, we repeated the same message ministered on the Lord’s Day concerning breathing, drinking, and eating the Lord, in addition to distribution. The Pastors were so receptive and requested us to come again and minister to them.

The moment we entered the train to depart for Delhi, Amritsar received showers of rain. The seeds were sown by tilling the ground and God sent the rain!

In fact, the Pastor contact in Amritsar was the main organiser of the Pastors' meeting on Monday. We were made the guests and speakers to the gathering of about a hundred serving brothers and sisters. Since the Pastor was so touched by the ministry on Lord’s Day at his place, he once again requested for the same message to be ministered. We took that as the Lord’s leading and ministered the word with the exercise of our spirit. The Lord indeed anointed His word. Many brothers and sisters were so supplied by the word. I myself could sense the rich flow of life through the ministry of the word to the extend that we were invited to vist them again for the ministry of the word. Whether the Lord will lead us again or not, we don't know. We left the matter to the Lord. Only in His will, can we do. May His will be done.

In the meeting too, two politicians were present. I do pray that the Lord will touch them and save them too. Thus, having released the burden this time, our distribution trip came to a satisfactory conclusion. But, our train was delayed by two hours, that too was the Lord’s sovereignty.  Layer, the moment we boarded our train, there was a heavy downpour. The Lord sent the physical rain to this city after the burden for the ministry of the word was released. I took this as the Lord’s confirmation of His work. He sends the rain only after man tills the ground.

And no plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up — for Jehovah God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to work the ground, (Genesis 2:5, RecVer)

Lord, raise up Your testimony in Punjab!

Lord, bless Your move in Punjab!

Ministry of the Word to Tarn Taran

Amritsar was the city we planned to visit after Batala. But we did not have a contact. But as we were planning, a Pastor called us and invited us to visit him. But he was not in Amritsar but in Tarn Taran, a city about an hour's journey from Amritsar. Therefore, this city was added in our journey. 

This Pastor came in touch with the ministry books in Hindi at a Christian convention in Pathankot a week ago. As he was reading the book and praying, he felt the urge to call a number printed on the booklet. It was exactly at the same time that we were praying and planning for the distribution in Amritsar. Therefore, his phone call became the leading for us to visit Tarn Taran first.

In fact, I have been burdened to visit Tarn Taran since the time I first heard the name a couple of years ago. Though our trip to this city was not planned, the Lord fulfilled the burden he implanted many years ago in my heart. I can only marvel at the Lord’s mysterious way of leading us for His move.

As we fellowshipped with the Pastor who was a pioneer in this city for the gospel, he was so burdened for his son whom he also invited. When his son came, I introduced the Holy Bible Recovery Version in English.  Every sentence that I spoke became to him a new light and revelation. He was so excited by the depth of the truth presented in the footnotes of the Recovery Version. Somehow, the Lord led me to present Genesis 1:1 on God, Elohim in Hebrew,  plural noun, which signifies the Triune God. Then, Genesis 1:26. Then Matthew 1:1, 3,5,6,16. As I explained the footnotes in these verses on the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the five women, he was completely taken aback. He proclaimed in exclamation, "Today is my second salvation!" So, within the short time he had, he received light after light, and placed order for the Holy Bible Recovery Version.

As we enjoyed the sumptuous meal provided by the Pastor, we prayed together and the Pastor and his wife blessed me literally. Through one of the Pastors whom he also invited to meet us, we got a contact for Amritsar finally, who then became our key contact for Amritsar. 

Lord, raise up Your testimony in Tarn Taran!

Ministry of the Word to Batala

Batala was inserted in our distribution trip just because the city lies in between Gurdaspur and Amritsar. Actually, we had no contact in this city. But as we planned and prayed for this city, only in the morning  of the day we were to visit, a contact was given to us. So we came to meet his one, who was a Pastor.

The moment we met and introduced the ministry books in Punjabi, he showed so.much interest. But since the time of our visit was lunch time, he offered us to eat lunch with him. Meanwhile, he introduced another Pastor nearby which we visited as he prepared our lunch. In that way, we could meet the key Pastors within the one day we had for this city. 

This latter Pastor was so impressed by the ministry books that he invited us to visit the city again on 7th May to distribute the ministry books in a Pastor's meeting. So, the next trip to Punjab was planned accordingly. 

As we had lunch with the first Pastor, I introduced the ministry books in Hindi. He immediately placed order for the entire set along with the English Holy Bible Recovery Version. Promptly and step by step the Lord led us to the people He wanted us to meet.

Lord, raise up the church in Batala!

Ministry of the Word to Gurdaspur

One of our brothers gave us hospitality in one of the villages in Gurdaspur. We stayed there for three nights and during the day visited the nearby localities for distribution. Though it was a remote and interior part of Punjab, many believers have been gained by the Lord so far. I personally was overwhelmed by the spread of the gospel in the interior parts of Punjab. I believe, in the entire North India, Punjab is the state with the highest number of Christian population, especially in the villages. 

One of the Pastors we meet was so impressed by the truth and the ministry books, especially the Holy Bible Recovery Version. He immediately placed order for the Bible and all the ministry books in Hindi, five sets each as he also has a Christian books shop and he often goes for distribution using his gospel van. I reckoned that as the Lord opening the door and immediately supplied all the books he ordered. Though he was busy with other Christian meeting, he patiently took time to host us even with lunch. The Lord has prepared His chosen ones for His move. Though we met for the first time, we could trust one anther for God’s move. 

Later, we were invited by another young Pastor at his house. Though he was interested in the ministry books I felt he did not have the capacity to purchase them. Therefore, I was burdened to gift him three books, on the church and the oneness of the believers, to read. Out of his poverty, he even hosted us with dinner. Though we tried to deny his requested he insisted that we dine with him. May the Lord gain him and supply him richly.

In this district there are already three families through whom the Lord can even raise up His testimony. 

Lord, raise up the church in Gurdaspur!

Ministry of the Word to Pathankot

Pathankot was our last stop in the last distribution trip. But due to time constraint we were not able to do anything as we came from Chamba via Banikhet. We only came to board our train from this city. Therefore, we decided immediately that we would come back to Pathankot for another round of distribution, not merely satisfied with the exhibition in a Christian convention. Besides, Punjabi booklets BXL 1,2,3 were just printed and the first ministry books in Punjabi needed introduction and distribution. 

As we arrived Pathankot, the first person we met for the introduction and distribution of the ministry books in Punjabi was a very senior Pastor and a pioneer of the gospel move in Pathankot. He was the first person to receive the Punjabi ministry books. He opened the door for us by introducing a good number of key Christian leaders. Though he regret that he could not give us hospitality due to some legal issues he recently faced, he was glad that we could meet him atleast. He even requested us to pray for him and the ministry he has been involved in, and he also prayed for us and blessed us.

The next leader we met was the President of the Christian Pastors Association. This brother was so impressed by the truth that he purchased some key books that I introduced to him. He received a good number of the free Punjabi books for his distribution and invited us for lunch as well. It was indeed the Lord who led us to meet the key people at His own time.

During the two days stay in the city, we met the key people and the base for further distribution of the ministry books has been set. The Lord gave us a brother who has been so impressed by the truth that he volunteered to do the distribution on our behalf. What we could not, he will continue to carry out.

Lord, raise up Your testimony in Pathankot!

Training: Inward and Outward

The Lord has been training me these days in all possible ways. I have been blessed to be under His divine dealing and training. Last week, we had a three days training on the recent international training for elders and responsible ones on "Being a Vessel unto Honor, a Fully Equipped Man of God, by Being Empowered in the Grace Which Is in Christ Jesus to Fully Accomplish Our Ministry in the Unique Ministry of God’s Economy." The speaking of the Lord has been timely. Though His speaking through the training were outward, His work has been intrinsic. Through His word, here a little there a little, the Lord does His work gradually, especially in me.

For three days, we, brothers in North India, came together at the meeting hall in New Delhi for the training. The Lord has been preparing our vessels to be a vessel unto honor usefull to the Master. But for this, He has been perfecting our vessels to be like that of a soldier who would not entangle himself in the affair of this life, an athlete who contends in the game, a laboring farmer who labors faithfully, a carpenter who cut straight the word of the truth, and a proper workman. All these are to constitute us to be useful to the Lord.

Suffer evil with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please the one who enlisted him. And also if anyone contends in the games, he is not crowned unless he contends lawfully. The laboring farmer must be the first to partake of the fruit. (2 Timothy 2:3-6, RecVer)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth. (2 Timothy 2:15, RecVer)

But in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels but also wooden and earthen; and some are unto honor, and some unto dishonor. If therefore anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, useful to the master, prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20-21, RecVer)

This was how I experienced the Lord’s perfecting outwardly through His speaking. But following this training ,we also had another two days of seekers' training. This training, though at the very outset, it might be for the seekers, but it was a training for me particularly. My inward being has been dealt with by this training. I bore the responsibility for inviting and taking care of them all. Though only half of the ones who confirmed to join turned up, the training went on. This was a dealing for my inward being that I should not boast of anything relating to the seekers. 

To care for the seekers, I looked to the Lord for those who came and also for those who could not come. Besides, throughout the training, I was with the seekers, learning together with them and taking care of them. Out of my own burden, I also took part in whatever way I could. I spent and I was being spent for the sake of the seekers. It was a burden to bear, but with the Lord’s grace, everything was taken care. The saints in the church in New Delhi and Gurugram coordinated to take care of the hospitality. In this way, we all bore the same burden together. What a learning and what a training! Praise the Lord! These two trainings were a training for me inwardly and outwardly. What the Lord spoke became my experience. His hand followed His words. What a grace!

Lord, make me a vessel useful to You, a vessel unto honor.