Listen to the Saints

One time I heard a testimony of a brother who was serving in a country but was not able to go on as he did not know what the Lord was leading him for. In his desperate need, he fellowshipped with a coworker who told him to listen to the saints if he did not know how to lead the saints. Later, he opened up to the saints and listened to the saints. Sure enough, as the brother fellowshipped with him, he got the Lord's leading by listening to the saints.

The Lord is the Head of the Body and He is also the Body of the Head. He leads as the Head and He also leads as the Body of the Head. Therefore, the Lord's leading also comes through the saints in many cases. This time I had a wonderful experience of listening to the saints and knowing the Lord's leading by doing so.

Two weeks ago, we brothers in the church in Gurugram were not able to come together for a proper fellowship due to some brothers unavailability. So, we did not plan anything to make use of the holiday on the 25th Dec. For sure, we do not celebrate the religious ceremony. But we wanted to make use of the day and invite the saints, especially the new ones, for a time of fellowship and gospel preaching. But nothing was decided. Only on the previous Lord's Day, two sisters came to fellowship with the brothers after the meeting enquiring about our plan. We brothers then had an impromptu fellowship over the phone to consider and decide the matter. Therefore, through fellowship over the phone, the matter was decided. Thanks to the sisters who had the leading and led the brother for further fellowship. Through this fellowship, a one-day gospel meeting was arranged and around a dozen new ones turned up for the meeting. 

Two brothers preached the gospel and led the new one to call upon the Lord and two brothers fellowshipped on the matter of Christian living after receiving the Lord. The young people functioned in leading the hymns and serving in practical matters. Though I myself had no plan to participate in any activity, at the end of the meeting, I felt the need to give the conclusion. Therefore, I concluded the gospel meeting and also the fellowship meeting with a word of prayer.

Again, last Saturday, in our brothers' fellowship we made a plan for the year-end meeting on the 31st Dec night. But we were not clear on what we should do on the 1st of Jan 2025 as this is another public holiday that we can make use of. Last Lord's Day, we opened the matter to the saints to consider together as the church. Then, through the fellowship of the saints, the matter was clear that we should conduct a meeting for the church blending and visitation to the new ones' families.

These two experiences the Lord gave to show us how to follow His leading by listening to the saints when we ourselves did not have any leading.  Later, in the night as I was spending time with the Lord in prayer, the Lord gave me some practical details as to how to conduct the meeting. Then, in fellowship with the brothers again, things became very clear and planning was done accordingly. The messages posted for the meetings are below.

Testimony of God’s Blessing, Fellowship and Prayer Meeting

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Date: 31 December 2024

Time: 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Venue: DLF-1 Meeting Hall

Lovefeast Dinner: 7:30 PM to 8:15 PM

Testimony of God’s Blessing: 8:15 PM to 9:30 PM

All saints can prepare to testify the top portion of the blessing of God received in 2024 for 3-5 minutes each.

Fellowship of Burden and Prayer for 2025: 9:30 PM to  10:00 PM

Should any saint wish to stay back for prayer or fellowship, the meeting hall will be open till midnight.

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For those who wish to stay back on 31st Dec., after 10:00 PM.

Tea/Soup Break

Corporate Prayer on Specific Burdens: 10:15 PM to 11:00 PM

Personal Prayer: 11:00 PM to 11:30 PM

Corporate Consecration Prayer: 11:30 PM to 12 Midnight

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Church Blending and Gospel Meeting

Date: 1 January 2025

Time: 12 Noon to 1:30 PM

Lovefeast Lunch: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Please feel free to invite your friends, colleagues, relatives, and new ones and confirm how many will come.

What a blessing to know and live in the reality of the Body life! The Lord speaks and leads  as the Head and also as the Body of the Head. What a precious lesson to learn listiening to the saints! Listen to the saints...

 

Marriage Fellowship

The Lord has finally brought one couple to be in oneness for a proper marriage in the church in Gurugram. We have been praying for many years for the marriages of the single saints in the church, but we were not able to see a breakthrough in this matter. All the proposals we had in the past did not come to fruition due to one reason or the other. With much fellowship, prayer, and consideration we made some proposals but nothing worked out till now. But this time, at least, we can witness a day dawning in the matter of marriage of the saints.

On the 14th of this month, I received an impromptu call from a brother in the church in New Delhi for a visit to the family of a sister in Gurgram for a fellowship on the marriage proposal. Though the sister had been introduced to a brother almost a year ago, the matter was not brought forward until this time as many things transpired in between, even involving the groom-to-be. Now, that things became much clearer, a fellowship was held for the confirmation from the family side for the marriage.

One-and-half-week after, on the 25th of this month, I and my wife along with another couple from Delhi had a fellowship with the family members of the bride and groom-to-be. In this fellowship, the marriage matter was confirmed and the date was fixed. May the Lord lead them through in this matter for the sake of the church and for the Lord's testimony among the young ones. Last Lord's Day, after fellowshipping with the brothers in the church in Gurgram a formal announcement was made for the wedding to be held on the 14th of Feb 2025. 

This matter is significant as this is the first breakthrough in the fellowship in the matter of the marriage of the saints in the church in Gurugram. Now, we pray that the Lord will lead us through and that the marriage can actually happen on the appointed date. Since the matter is a blessing, we also had an open prayer for the couple after the open announcement in the church meeting.

May all the single saints also follow suit that all the unmarried siants can also get married, one by one soon as many of them have crossed their thirties. This for sure will be a sign of the Lord's visible blessing in the church. 

Lord, bless the couple and bless the marriage, head up all the practical arrangements so that the marriage would be a testimony to the saint in the church, especially among the young ones.

Fourth Prison Visit

On the 26th of Dec, along with the saints in the church in Gurugram, we visited the brothers in the prison in Mathura. This was my fourth visit to the brothers. This visit was with an important update for the recent fellowship we had in Chennai. I could not go ahead and execute the fellowship unless I first fellowshipped with my coordinating brother.  

This time, I personally came to fellowship and update important matters related to the official literature service as I fellowshipped with the brothers serving in the work in India last week. This time I updated my brother on the new directors proposed from India. This matter needs to be fellowshipped first for implementing it. Except for the prison wall, I am still serving in oneness with my brother. As usual, I brought whatever important official matters to him and only if we both feel good in oneness and one accord, then only I will take the further step. 

This time, I brought along three saints who came to visit the brothers in the prison for the first time. Since it was my foruth time, I became familiar with the people in the token counter and the street vendors from whom we purchased fruits and drank tea. The imprisonment has almost reached a hundred days now. By now, the saints have accepted the fact and could cope up with the unprecedented situation. The mother and wife of the brothers in the prison were no longer emotionally depressed as before. Gradually, the Lord has been perfecting us to accept His sovereign arrangement. 

Through this situation, the Lord also blended the saints together in maNy practical aspect of the church life. In caring for one another, in physical visits and spiritual prayers, and in bearing the burden for the Lord's testiomny together in North India. Everywhichway, the Lord is gaining us and building us up together in Him, unto His glory.

We still continue to pray for the brothers' release and for the strengthening of His move in North India.

Fellowship with Literature Serving Ones

Whenever I visited Chennai, I used to spend time with the serving ones for a time of fellowship, following the Lord's leading on what to fellowship. This time too, I had one morning time with all the serving ones on the 20th of Dec. In the last visit, through the fellowship, the office ceiling was renovated and health insurance for all the serving was purchased. 

This time, I fellowshipped with them on the faithfulness required of serving ones in their service to the Lord. I encouraged all of them to be so exercised in their spirit that they would be found faithful by the Lord, especially in taking care of their official duties. Each serving ones needs to record their daily work schedule and serve at least eight hours a working day. In this regard, the exercise of the conscience plays a vital role in the service. I also touched on the matter of every serving one to be faithful to practice the God-ordained way of preaching the gospel. In the South, the state is still very open to the gospel unlike in the North.  So, I encouraged all of them to actively participate in the church gospel preaching, home meetings, group meetings, and the church life in general. Every serving one should be a pattern to the saints. I also mentioned the need to recover their weekly truth pursuing, prayer, and fellowship which they all agreed to do once a week on Wednesdays, and gradually consider increasing the frequency.

This time too, I met the new brother who came to serve in the literature service as a result of the previous visit to his family for fellowship. As the Lord leads, he has been brought into the service. I also had a personal time with a brother whom I had borne in my heart to preserve him in his service despite the serious case that was brought against him in the past. The Lord has been merciful to him and he has been gradually recovered through much prayer, fellowship, and shepherding. I pray that the Lord will preserve him to be faithful to the end.

I regard all the serving ones and honor their portions the Lord has apportioned to each one of them. I also mentioned that I serve in coordination not as a "boss" to his "subordinates' but as a coworker serving in the Body in the publication work for the Lord's move. Therefore, I serve in the principle of mutual trust and respect. In this way, we serve in the Body in coordination, faithful to the Lord in each one's function. 

Lord, bless all the serving ones in Chennai office for the ministry of the word!

Shepherding a Brother

A brother has been calling me now and then for fellowship. As a brother, I did my best to shepherd him whenever he called. This time, since I came down to Chennai, I informed him about the possibility of meeting up and also introducing him to the brothers in the church life in Chennai. But, I left the matter to the Lord and let the Spirit do His work. 

When I was actually available to meet, I did not receive a positive response from him and I could not sense that he was indeed serious or eager to fellowship. Therefore, I did not wish to force myself into meeting him. Instead, I gave him the choice to decide on his own. Only if he was willing would I pay the price to meet him. I left the matter to the Lord. Once my fellowship with the brothers in Chennai ended, I waited for him to make the call.

Since I did not receive a response within the time frame I gave him, i.e., before lunchtime on the 19th Dec, I decided to cancel the meeting and go to a brother's house for hospitality. Only when I reached my accommodation, he called me. Only then, I made the decision to meet him.

We eventually met at a lake he proposed to meet at about an hour's drive amidst the city traffic. Then, we spent time together at a nearby coffee house for fellowship over a cup of coffee. We had about two hours of fellowship, especially on his marital issue, and prayed together. I spoke what I felt was needed to be spoken. I was specific in letting him know that the soul-life has to be denied, the self has to be dealt with and follow the Lord. The soul life has been a great hindrance for many to progress spiritually. The soul life also has been a major issue in his marital issues. Only the mercy of the Lord can lead him through in his matter. I recognized that I was not the one to lead anybody, therefore, I deferred every decision he needed to take by sincerely seeking the will of the Lord in everything about his life, especially his marital issue. Though my fellowship with him may be a little sour and I had to let him know that his soul life need to be dealt with, he also felt a little uneasiness with the fellowship I had with him. I felt that was what he needed at the moment. I cannot be a man-pleaser. I must speak what needs to be spoken without fear. At one point, I even told him to his face that his ego, his self, needs to be dealt with by the cross of Christ. Only when the will of the Lord is made clear, He can follow the Lord's leading step by step.

After this fellowship, I said goodbye to him. Since he is a believer himself, I did not feel the need to follow him up and coerce him for anything. Let the will of the Lord be done in his life. Until he takes a further step for further fellowship, I decided not to interfere in his matter again. I leave him to the Lord.

This is a lesson for me too. To be faithful to the truth and not be a man-pleaser.  May the Lord shepherd my brother and gain him fully for His purpose.

Brothers Fellowship in Chennai

Our God is the moving Triune God! He moves in the midst of the world's chaotic situation, often clubbed with persecution, especially in North India these days. His move can neither stop nor be hindered. Our responsibility on the earth is to be one with Him in His move. In fact, the stronger the opposition to His move, the stronger and swifter His move becomes. For He is God, and He is good at being God. Hallelujah!

From the 17th of Dec tilt the 19th, the brothers serving in coordination in India came together for a three-day fellowship on the Lord's move in India specifically. Day by day for three days we came together for prayers and then fellowship on some practical points. In between, a senior brother fellowshipped on the burden the Lord has imparted to him for all of us. So for three days, we had a bl; blessed time of prayers, fellowship, and blending. What a joy and blessing indeed for brothers to be oneness! The outward situation in India just proved the inward move of the Lord in, among, and through all of us brothers. Praise the Lord!

In this fellowship, I also brought the point for the new directors from India. Though I proposed two young brothers who have been in my consideration for years now, they are still to go through many learning and lessons in life until they are fully prepared by the Lord to bear the responsibility of shouldering the publication work together with me and the brothers serving in coordination. In fellowship, two new brothers from India who also have been coordinating in the Lord's move were proposed to be the new directors from India. 

Following this fellowship, I updated the brothers on the publication work in the USA, and also my coordinating brother who is still in prison at the present time. I confirmed the directorship to the brothers and will further proceed with the formal registration of their directorships. 

Other practical needs of the present time were also fellowshipped in responses to the current political situation in India. All that I can testify is that God is still on the throne and He is executing His work through us on the earth.

Lord, bless Your move in India!

Third Visit to Prison

Today, along with the saints in the church in Gurugram, we visited the brothers in the prison in Mathura. This was my third visit to the brothers. Though the brothers have not been released yet, we all still continue to pray for them day by day. 

This time, I personally came to fellowship some important matters related to the official literature service as I will be fellowshipping with the brothers serving in the work in India in the coming week. I felt it best to bring the matters to fellowship with my coordinating brother first before I presented it to other brothers. Except for the prison wall, I still felt that I am still serving in oneness with my brothers. As usual, I brought whatever official matters to him and only if we both feel good in oneness and one accord, then only I will take the further step. My brother has been my completer like "the Urim and the Thummim." What a blessing to serve in coordination!. What a grace not to be able to make any crucial decisions without fellowshipping with the one the Lord has ordained for me!

Today, I also brought to my brother the person I have been considering for a new director to be brought into the literature service. I have been carrying this burden for many years now, and today I revealed it to my brother. I mentioned to the other board of directors some months ago. But to move forward with this proposal, I still need to fellowship with the brothers serving in the work in India. 

Though I fellowshipped what has been in my heart, I do not stick to it. I leave the matter open to the fellowship of the brothers and let the Lord make the final decision through the brothers. Even in this matter, I am willing to give it up. 

In fact, the Lord also made known to me the other day during my prayer time that I completely leave the matter for fellowship. Though I may mention it, I must not stick to it. May the perfect will of the Lord be done.

One good news that I heard from the brothers is that, so far, three prisoners have heard the gospel, called upon the Lord's name, believed into the Lord Jesus Christ as the true and living God, and accepted Him as their personal Saviour right there inside the prison. In all the cases, once these inmates believed into the Lord, they got bail the next day.  What a sovereign arrangement of the Lord!

I don't know how long the brothers be imprisoned and how many more visits I need to make, but one thing is sure, Jesus is Lord!

Praise the Lord! Christ is Victor! The gates of Hades cannot prevail against the church built by the Lord Jesus Christ!