The Primary Focus

 

What is your primary focus in life? In I Corinthians, God’s Word tells us to what we are called —primarily.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

We have been called to fellowship, that is, to a relationship. In that relationship, there are things that only God can do, and likewise, there are things that only we can do. If we are going to have fellowship then we will both need to do our parts.

One of the things that we do is we keep this relationship with the Father as our primary focus in life. Other aspects of life will need our attention also. There is the family and home, work or school, fellowship with believers, recreation, and so on, but the one thing that needs to stay on top of our priority list is fellowship with God. When we allow anything else in life to be our primary focus, we slip away from that fellowship, and then from joy, peace, love, and all that is truly desirable. I am sure you know how many other “good things” Satan would love you to make your primary focus!

I Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

This is God’s will, that everyone should be saved, and that they should come to the knowledge of the truth. Then all peoples everywhere would have a relationship with God as their Father. That is why God does not want all men to be saved only, but also to come unto the knowledge of the truth. The more we know God, the more we love Him, and the deeper our fellowship can be.

The word for “knowledge” is epignosis, “a precise and correct knowledge.” We do not need to get this knowledge simply for the sake of having more information in our heads, but to have more of God’s will in our hearts. That way, we can live it, and be doers of the Word, not just hearers only.

There is a danger when too much emphasis is placed on what we “know”, or “what we have been taught”. Listening to a teaching on healing or believing does not mean I know it. When I hear it, then do it, I am getting somewhere. Otherwise, it does not qualify as anything other than head knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but the love of God edifies. Let me show you another place this word, “epignosis” is used.

Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement [epignosis] of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Just being exposed to wonderful teachings about the mystery does not qualify as really knowing anything about it. It has to get to the point of living it, and then it becomes that precise and correct knowledge. Then the whole picture is painted.

The Judeans of old got the idea that because they were given the law they were somehow better than everyone else was. That was a big mistake. Just having the law was not enough-- they needed to practice it. It is the same way with us.

Just having been taught so much of the Word does not make us any more special than any other Christian. God forbid that we become like those Judeans who looked down their noses at those who did not know what they knew. If God is our primary focus, then we will use our knowledge to deepen our relationship with Him, and then help others come into the relationship, too. When we are critical or judgmental of others we have slipped away from fellowship.

Lately I have been reading about Christians who have had tremendous fruit in their ministries. I want to learn from their successes so I can produce more fruit in my life, too. I read a book by Oral Roberts (“The Miracle of Seed-Faith”), one about the house church movement in China (“Back to Jerusalem”), and I am starting another by Watchman Nee (“The Normal Christian Life”), a Chinese minister who has had a great impact on many believers.

You see God works wherever He is allowed to work. God does not show favor because of what we know, or have been taught, or not favor someone because he does not know something. God favors all of His children equally because of what Jesus Christ’s blood means to Him. All His children can, and do produce signs, miracles, and wonders because of their believing. It is only through the blood of Jesus Christ that we can approach God at all, not anything that we have done to make ourselves acceptable to Him.

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Together, we, the body of Christ need to work together to teach His Word everywhere as faithful witnesses for Jesus Christ. The clarion call to all the saved is to help all those who desire to be brought to the Father, so they too can have a relationship with Him.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Will there be opposition? Sure! Do think Satan will like the truth taught boldly all over the world? Those who opposed the truth accused Paul of turning “the world upside down”. He was beaten many times, imprisoned, and endured much hardship—just to preach the gospel!

So, rather than seek our own ease and comfort let us seek to fulfill the will of our Father. Let us ask God for one hungry person with whom to share the Word. If the “fur flies”, so be it! Jesus Christ gave his all for us, so we can do no less. In keeping God our Father as our primary focus, we will be blessed now, and when our lord Jesus Christ returns.

 

Hallelujah! I am dead!

Hallelujah? Does this  sound like a state in which to rejoice?  However, recently I came to realize that my death is cause for great rejoicing!

"Are you out of your mind?", you may ask. No. Quite the contrary. In fact, recently I was greatly excited to read an actual account of my execution.

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Here I see that Jesus was not the only one on the cross. To the physical eye he hung there alone, but in the greater reality--the spiritual reality--I was there with him! And I do believe that Jesus indeed died on the cross. That is truth. It is truth whether I believe it or I do not believe it. He died. So it is also true of me. I died also. And whether I believe it or not, the truth remains unchanged.

It says, "Knowing this...". What is this "knowing"? It is the following:

ginw,skw ginosko {ghin-oce'-ko}

Meaning: 1) to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel 1a) to become known 2) to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of 2a) to understand 2b) to know 3) Jewish idiom for intercourse between a man and a woman 4) to become acquainted with, to know.

This experiential kind of knowing goes beyond hearing it.  It is also used in the epistle of I John.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know (ginosko) him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

All my attempts at reforming the old man are useless. He was beyond reformation. And because I died with him on the cross, was buried with him, and rose with him, I am a free man; free to choose to live for him and in him.

The "body of sin" it talks about in Romans 6:6, that old man nature, was destroyed. Another way to translate this word is, "unemployed". Sin, the old master is still in existence, but my old nature is unemployed. He no longer has to jump when sin, the old master says jump. Now, by my free will, I can live life as a son of God.  I can reckon myself to be dead, as it says in Romans 6:11.

Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What a great life! I am dead!

 

 

What Does it Mean to Give Our All?

 

John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

 

The timing here is important to remember. This took place six days before the Passover. Do you know who was the Passover that year? Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 5:7). He was our Passover.

 

When the first Passover was kept, the blood was to be sprinkled on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of their homes. The lamb was to be eaten inside. When the Israelites were inside they could not see the blood. Only God could see it.

 

Exodus 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you…

On the Day of Atonement, when high priest killed the sacrifice, he did it in view of the people. When he took the blood into the Holy Place, only he and God could see the blood. My point is this: the blood is for God, not us. When Christ our Passover was crucified for you and for me, the blood was for God, and it was good enough for God.

1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

God says the blood is “precious”. I need to have the same estimate of the blood. It should most definitely be good enough for me, too.

 

I know I was saved by grace, not by works (Ephesians 2:9). Now, what about my walk? Is it by works? At times I get tricked into thinking and acting as if it is. If only I read my Bible long enough, or prayed first thing in the morning, or witness to someone, or I’m especially kind to my wife, then, surely I’ll have a better access to God. On the other hand, if I do not do all the above, then how could I possibly have access to Almighty God? However neither is true. My approach to God is solely based on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. God still sees the blood, and it is still good enough for Him.

 

When I know and understand this most important point, of the value of Christ’s blood to God, and what it means to me, what springs from inside my heart is an intense desire to love God, and to serve Him. I will desire to serve Him out of this love motivation, not to try to win His favor. Our savior Jesus Christ won his favor.

 

Now, back to Bethany and the “waste”.

 

John 12:2-5 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

 

We could expect this reaction from Judas, couldn’t we? His response to Mary’s loving act was not unlike the world’s—he was not thinking about serving the master, only about himself. Let’s look at another record that took place a few days later, still in Bethany.

 

Mark 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

Here was another window of opportunity to do something for the master. In a matter of a few days he would be in the grave, awaiting his resurrection. This woman took this costly alabaster box of ointment and poured it on his head—all of it! How did some of the other believers react?

Mark 14:4,5 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

There you go! Some of these wonderful believers called her act of love “waste”; they had indignation and murmured against her. She took her most precious gift and poured it all on him. You would think they would applaud! Here is how Jesus Christ responded…

Mark 14:6-9 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

On one hand, some of these onlookers criticized her, and murmured against her. On the other hand, Jesus said it was a good work, and that it would be a memorial wherever the gospel is preached! How different are these estimations of the same act.

Is it “waste” to pour out our most precious gift on the lord Jesus Christ? The Judas’ and even some believers will say it is a waste. Apparently, Jesus Christ would not agree with that thinking.

What is your alabaster box? We all have one. Paul had one, and he counted it but “dung”. When we come to the realization of what Jesus Christ’s precious blood has won for us, and that our approach to God is only by what he has done, and not we ourselves, we will gladly give that alabaster box, that most precious ointment. Our window of opportunity to give it is right now, today.

The world, and even some other believers will say that you are wasting your time, your talents, and your money, whatever your alabaster box is. Regardless of what you hear from the crowd, I urge you to search your heart, and discover your alabaster box, if indeed you aren’t sure of what it is. Pour out of yourself for the lord Jesus Christ in the here and now, and you’ll be blessed now, and when our lord and savior comes back for us.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 

 

 

 

What Does it Mean to be Righteous?

Many of us are familiar with the word, "righteous". We have heard and know that the Almighty God, our heavenly Father has made us His own, and He has imparted to us His life and nature. You are indeed righteous, and you are righteous right now.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature...

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

What about this English word, "righteous"? Not exactly a word we use everyday, is it? Do you know that this is a compound word, made up of the root word, "right", and the suffix, "-eous"? The suffix, -eous, means "having the quality or nature of."

We use other compound words with this suffix. Words like "beauty", "courtesy", "plenty", and "outrage" can have -eous added to them.

1) Beauty + eous = beauteous. Beauteous is "having the quality or nature of beauty."                                                                                                                               

2) Courtesy + eous = courteous. Courteous is ”having the quality or nature of courtesy".                                                                                                                                 

3) Plenty + eous = plenteous. Plenteous is "having the quality or nature of plenty".                                                                                                                                   

4) Outrage +eous = outrageous. Outrageous is "having the quality or nature of outrage".                                                                                                                                    

5) Right + eous = righteous. Righteous is "having the quality or nature of being right".

Where do you have this quality or nature of being right? Is it in your flesh? No. In fact, when we look there we will be very disappointed.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing...

Satan will try to trick you into looking for your righteousness, your quality or nature of being right, in your flesh. He will come to your mind and say,

"You, righteous? Ha! Who are you kidding?!"

The natural tendency is to then look within us, to try to find something of value to prove Satan wrong. Looking within, and finding, as God's Word says, "no good thing", we can only agree with him. We end up miserable. However, when we know that our old (and worthless) man was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6), we reckon ourselves dead (Romans 6:11) and present ourselves (the KJV says, "yield") to God we can focus on the new man. It is in the new creation, our new selves that this quality resides.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

That new creation is where the quality or nature of being right dwells. We do have a new nature, it is the nature of God Himself, imparted to us at the time of our new birth. God didn't just change us. That old nature died, and a whole new man--a righteous man--was created.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Praise God, You are right + eous = righteous. Righteous is "having the quality or nature of being right". Before God you are right, by the work of Jesus Christ!

Imagine for a moment that you are a judge about to enter a courtroom. The gallery is filled with faces full of anticipation. Lawyers anxiously go over their notes. As you walk to your place the bailiff cries out, "All rise!"

Everyone in the room snaps to attention as you move to your place behind the huge desk. You pick up the gavel and rap it on the desk two or three times.

"Order in the court!"

The room fills with silence as your eyes search for the plaintiff. His chair sits empty next to the defense attorney. At least it appears to be empty. You scan the docket for the day and see that first trial doesn't involve a man at all. The one on trial that morning is none other than...God. Yes. It is your courtroom, and God is on trial. What evidence will you hear? What witnesses will be brought forth? How will the attorneys argue their respective cases? And most important of all, how will you judge God?

If all this sounds a little blasphemous to you, just stay with me for a little bit. You would not be the first one to judge God. There also was Sarah, Abraham's wife.

Hebrews 11:11

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Each and every moment of our lives we are all judging God. We are either judging Him faithful, as Sarah did, or we are judging Him unfaithful. God has spoken to us, and He continues to speak to us. When He speaks, how do you judge Him?

3 John 2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

You and I will judge God to be faithful to this promise, or unfaithful. This, and the hundreds upon hundreds of wonderful promises in God's Word are available to us each and every day. They are ours for the claiming. And they all hinge on our judgment of God...will He come through, or will He not?

Sarah judged God to be faithful to His promise that she would bear a son, even though she had been unable to have children all her life. Now at about 90 years of age she came to the place in her life where she considered the evidence, and she passed judgment.

"Faithful!" said Sarah.

What was the result of her judgment? Isaac.

On what could this aged woman base her decision? What evidence did she have? Who were the witnesses that came forth? Let me say that Sarah had only words, and that's all. When it comes right down to it, she had heard what God said, and she decided to accept it as the truth.

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

You see, what God says produces faith, and then we must supply our part of the equation. We bring the ears--the hearing. Now hearing isn't merely being present when God's Word is spoken, although that will help. I like to think of this hearing as attentively listening and thoughtfully considering, and then, making up my mind to accept it. What is produced in me is what is called faith. I don't produce it myself, as I hear it is produced in me.

If you are a born again believer you have already believed the most outlandish story there is. Someone told you that Jesus is Lord, and that God has raised him from the dead. How did you come to believe that? You heard the story, perhaps many times. And then, in your heart you made a choice to hear God, and allow those words to sink in.

So if you are judging God to be unfaithful in your healing, or your marriage, or your...any area of your life, you name it. Go to God's Word and listen. Allow God to speak to you and let His words penetrate your heart. Give it the time it needs, too. After all, we don't see many farmers out in the fields the day after planting pulling out their hair because there is no harvest yet. Each seed takes time. Be patient. God will bring His Word to pass.

Luke 8:15

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

 

 

 

 

I am learning to act as if the Word of God is true. Every bit of it. That's what Jesus said it is, right?

John 17:17

¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

If you would ask most Christians if we believe the Word of God is true, I would imagine that most would say, "Yes." Well then, wouldn't that change how we act?

Now the Bible is not intended to be a behavior modification book, or a book of rules. It is a window into the heart of God, a message from our Father about His nature, and how we can expect Him to act toward us.

Psalm 46:1-3

¹ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

³ Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

According to this passage we can literally expect God to be our source of strength in times of trouble. And since this is true, how should we act as a result? I would imagine that nail biting, fretting, and outright panic would be ruled out.

The Lord Jesus was a man who understood completely what I am trying to say. When he was faced with an actual storm, what was his response?

Mark 4:37-41

³⁷ And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

³⁸ And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

³⁹ And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰ And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Someone might say, "But Taylor, that was Jesus. I am not Jesus, how can you expect me to act like he did?" You are right, my friend, you are not Jesus. You are not the apostle Paul, Martin Luther, or John Wesley. You are not anyone else. You are you, with Christ in you, and your Father knows you. He knows how to work with you, personally, if you will allow Him.

^ASV Philippians 2:13

¹³ for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

The very next verse has some further instruction...

^ASV Philippians 2:14

¹³ Do all things without murmurings and questionings.

Christianity is not trying. It is trusting. Trusting that what God says is true, and that in Him only is stability. Not a job, not government, not friends, or family. In God only. So when He wants to teach us something we let Him, and stop murmuring and questioning ("Why, me, Lord?"). We let Him do His job, and we do ours.

Isaiah 33:6

⁶ And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Look, we have already believed the most outrageous thing possible. We believed that Jesus was stone cold dead, and that God raised him up. What did you have to do with that? Not a thing, right. That's the approach we take to life--God says He can and will do something, we believe it, and God will bring it to pass, just like He raised Jesus up.

The other day I was watching a movie with my daughter called “Finding Nemo.” You probably have seen it. If you had small children when it came out you probably watched it dozens of times like I have. This time, though, it really got to me in a very different way.

The part that especially impacted me was when the pelican crashes into the dentist’s window and tells Nemo that his father has crossed the ocean looking for him. He says that Nemo’s father had to fight sharks, jellyfish, and other suffer many other difficulties to find him. At first, Nemo doesn’t believe it. “That’s not my dad,” he says when the pelican tell him his dad had to fight 3 sharks. But when the pelican says, “Yeah! It is your dad. What’s his name? It’s a sport fish of some sort.” Nemo cries out, “Marlin?” “Yeah! That’s it, Marlin!” Nemo then realizes that his dad has come to rescue him. “That’s my dad!” He cries out. That sounded just like our story. God went looking for us. Do you remember this verse from the beginning of our story?

^RSV Genesis 3:9

But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"

I used to read this verse with the thinking that God was angry, or because God has foreknowledge that He already knew what Adam would do, and this was some sort of bored reply from God, like He was watching a movie He had seen a hundred times. “Oh, this is the part where Adam blows it. Ok, where are you?” However, missing the truth here has caused us to completely miss God’s heart.

We must understand that love is not just something that God has, but love is what He is. At this part of the story the Father who is LOVE lost His children, and not just Adam and Eve. Here is where He also lost us. This cry, "Where are you?" was a loving father who lost the most precious thing to Him—His children. His effort to win us back was far greater than Marlin’s search for Nemo.

In his book, Prayer, Simon Tugwell tells us that God is the one pursuing us:

”So long as we imagine that it is we who have to look for God, we must often lose heart. But it is the other way about; He is looking for us. And so we can afford to recognize that very often we are not looking for God; far from it, we are in full flight from him, in high rebellion against him. And He knows that and has taken it into account. He has followed us into our own darkness; there where we thought finally to escape him, we run straight into his arms. So we do not have to erect a false piety for ourselves, to give us the hope of salvation. Our hope is in his determination to save us, and he will not give in.” [1]

After realizing why “Nemo” so pierced my heart, the rest of the movie had a much greater meaning for me. Mankind needed a man to redeem him.[2] And the Lord Jesus, as God’s emissary did the work of redemption. So at the point of the movie when the various sea creatures are relating the story of Marlin’s pursuit of his son, I saw my Lord Jesus coming for me. There were the lobsters telling how Marlin went after the diver’s goggles, way, way down to the bottom of the ocean. The lobster said, “And is was wicked dark down there. You couldn’t see a thing!” Yes, like the grave, it was wicked dark down there. And Jesus went there for you and for me, facing that wicked darkness to win us back for the Father.

^ASV Colossians 1:13

Who (our heavenly Father) delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.

So we are reconciled to God. We are His, and He is ours. And there is another, more glorious reunion coming. Praise God! And that one will never come to an end.

^ASV 1 John 4:16

And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love…

 

If the United States is no longer a Christian nation then it has ceased to be a free nation. This is because freedom comes not from government, but from the God and Father of Jesus Christ. The more we require government to do God's job for us, the more these freedoms erode. Coming back to God is not an alternative. This is our solution.

 

John 8:31-32

³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Truth. What is truth? What God says is the truth. His words communicate His thoughts, and these thoughts produce His ideas in our minds. His ideas produce freedom. Any ideas other than God's produce bondage. I know this rubs against the natural, prideful nature, but the truth can definitely have that effect on us.

^ASV John 17:17

¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.

Wherever you or I are in bondage in any area of our lives, it is not God's fault. It is due to the ideas we hold in our minds, whether we are even aware of them or not.

^ASV 1 John 4:4

⁴ Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

God sent His Son to free us, so God wouldn't want to try to stop us from being wholly free children. According to I John 4:4 we have a far greater power in us than Satan, so really, he can't stop us. God won't stop you, Satan can't stop you, so what's stopping you? The only thing that can stop you, is you.

God won't stop you, Satan can't stop you, so what's stopping you? The only thing that can stop you, is you.

You and I have been made the sons and daughters of the Most High God, creator of the heavens and the earth. If we are not living that truth out in our daily lives (and let's face it, none of us have arrived yet) it is because we are holding lies in our minds. The best solution is to stop doing that, right? We must replace these lies with the truth.

Back in John 8 the Lord Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." That little word, "if" is huge. That is completely up to us and what we decide. We decide to continue, which is the Greek word, meno, meaning "to remain." It can also be translated, "to continue to be present."

Matthew 7:24-27

⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

²⁵ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

It may not sound fair that both houses were hit by the rain, flood, and the wind. I might feel justified in thinking that the storms should pass me by because I am a believer, but that isn't how it works, is it? The man who built his house on the rock was not spared any of that. And it is our continuing to be present in the truth that will enable us to make it through the storms in our lives, too, just like the man with house on the rock. Praise God for that.

 

1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

The sound waves from David’s harp were not just any sounds, and they were certainly not noise. They were sound waves that were on God’s frequency. David had the spirit of God upon him at this point, and when he walked by the spirit—even playing music—this evil spirit couldn’t stand the sounds and took off!

1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

The Word of the Lord sounded out from Thessalonica— these were God’s words, God’s sound ideas and thoughts—thoughts and ideas that bring salvation and healing that reverberated out from the believers. These words produced an effect in the world of that day, and they will do also in our world today.

^{MRD (Peshitta)} Mark 11:23 Verily I say to you, That whoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and fall into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he said will occur, to him will be the thing he spoke.

What we say and believe we have. The good and the bad, everything in our lives has been produced by what we are saying with believing. If we don’t like something we have in our lives we can change what we are saying.

Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

I like how the NIV translates this passage: God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. That is the poor saying, “I am rich!” That is the sick saying, “I am healthy!”

The physical world around has to bow before our words, but the physical world does not distinguish between good words or evil words. It will respond to whatever we say with believing.

Matthew 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Christ spoke to a tree. Now if you or I do this with believing we can expect the same results. People do do this sort of thing to their computer when it acts up—“You blankety-blank computer! You are a piece of junk!” Most people understand this point, but how about speaking a blessing to our checkbooks—“Money, get into my checkbook!” Why not? If you can curse a fig tree or a computer why not speak blessings to your finances?

James 3:3, 4 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

 

Our words produce sound waves. These sound waves impact things that are not. These things that are not become whatever we have in our lives. We can literally speak and change our world. As Job said…

Job 6:25 How forcible are right words!

 

 

The biggest problem we face all is not the government’s failed policies, or the prices of food at the supermarket, or the worsening behavior of society at large. No, our problem lies deeper than that. It is the unbelief of the human heart.

We hear things like, that God is only good, and that His intentions for us are also only good, but we somehow tend to doubt, or even worse, fear, that it is not true. What we have been listening to are the subtle lies of the Deceiver, and we have agreed with him. Maybe it is not a conscious decision where we blurt out, “Yeah, Satan, you know what, you are right! God is lying to me!” Agreement more often comes after a blow to your heart; a disappointment, a rejection, or we get reminded of a past failure or hurt, then we sigh, and whisper to ourselves that what we are experiencing must be true. But it is not. There is a greater reality.

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith comes…notice how the word cometh is in italics. This is telling us that this word is not in the text. In English we don’t say, “Water by faucet.” No, we say, “Water comes out of a faucet.” Yet in Greek, they can say it this way, “Faith out of hearing.” What we are to provide is the hearing, or listening, and God provides the faith.

Hearing is not merely being exposed to a great teaching. It means more like listening attentively, and thoughtfully considering, and then allowing the message to sink in. So, is God good…always? What does He say about Himself?

1 John 4:16

…God is love...

Love is not just something God has. It is what He is. This is a message that we need to play to our hearts like a waterfall over a granite cliff. We are in desperate need of this, especially in a world that says that God doesn’t even exist. Or, perhaps even worse, in a Christian world that says something evil in our lives comes from Him.

Luke 4:3

And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God…

The enemy makes the same type of sly statements to us, maybe not directly, like this, but he is ever challenging us about things like who God is, what are we to God. And the bottom line of all the subtle, and not-so-subtle accusations and lies is this: Is God’s Word true? When the Lord Jesus was faced with this attack, what did he say?

Luke 4:4

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

He didn’t say, “Maybe I’m not the son of God,” or “You are right, it sounds too cocky to say I am the son of God.” Nope. He said, “It is written…” Or, how the Greek is literally translated, “It stands written.” Yes, it stands written that you are a child of the most High God and that He loves you so much He was willing to spend everything to win you back. And now that you are His, and He is yours, He desires to nothing more than your fellowship and love. And we can walk with Him and talk with Him in the here and now. And what will overcome our worst human failing—government intervention? No, what will overcome all is one thing—faith that comes by hearing the most wonderful message in this world—the Word of God.

1 John 5:4

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

 

Imagine for a minute you are reading through your local newspaper and you come across the following advertisement for a Christian group:

"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success."

What do you think, would you join? Do you feel something stirring in you as you read these words? This would horrify some Christians, mainly because it is so far from the "nice guy Christian" we have become so accustomed to. The very idea of doing something dangerous seems almost un-Christian to many of our brothers and sisters.

When you think of Jesus, how do you picture him? Isn't that "nice guy" really the opposite of what the Lord Jesus actually was? Now, don't get me wrong, I know that our Lord was the most wonderful and loving man that ever lived. But if he were physically here today, I actually picture him having been a construction worker, riding a Harley, and hanging out on the bad side of town with the prostitutes and addicts.

He was dangerous to evil. Evil feared him. Sinners loved him. He stood up for those that were hurting and provoked the religious leaders daily with his words and deeds. Here's a quote of his that is not exactly fare for a modern day sermon.

ASV Matthew 10:34

Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

That sword is something to be used against our enemy--the spiritual enemy. Remember him? He is the "thief" who "comes not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." And that sword is made up of words. It is one of the "weapons of our warfare" we read about in 2 Corinthians. And it does mean warfare, not an athletic competition.

What got me thinking about this was I drove past a large church near our home, and there on the marquee was an invitation to come to the church, not to learn to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, but to do scrap-booking. Scrap-booking? Seriously, if I was looking for a group of Christians to hang out with, it wouldn't be for scrap-booking. But what if they would have had the advertisement I wrote about: "...constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success." Now that would get my attention.

That ad was actually placed in a newspaper around 1914. Sir Ernest Shackleton was looking for around 40 volunteers to join him on a voyage to cross Antarctica on foot. He didn't just get a few nut jobs to apply, either. Literally thousands of men applied, and a few women. Shackleton was blunt, "...safe return doubtful," not "Scrap-booking tonight." And what he got was a flood of hopeful applicants looking for, "Honor and recognition in case of success." Maybe we Christians should change our focus to what our Lord Jesus said we should be doing.

ASV Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations...

He didn't say to make converts, or nice guys. He said to make serious student followers of him. There are many mission fields open--to the Muslims, the Jews, and the unsaved in your neighborhood. There is risk involved in that, and perhaps danger. I'm in. How about you?

 

 

What was God thinking when He called you and me?

Here are two verses I have been reading over and over lately. They are from the Amplified Bible, and they practically shout out the love that motivated our great Father, God to call us, and make us His own.

^AMP Ephesians 1:4,5

⁴ Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.

⁵ For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—

There are those moments in all of our lives when all seems anything but rosy, and it looks as if the reason for being on this earth is just one big question mark, or even worse, a joke. But as I have been reading these verses it has been as if I am looking through clearing smokescreen, and I start to see, clearer and clearer, that yes, this is what I really am. And perhaps even more importantly, this is Who God is. God’s motivation comes out repeatedly in Ephesians.

^ASV Ephesians 2:4-5

⁴ but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

⁵ even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved).

My human tendency is to look within, and to try to find there some goodness, or a deed that makes me worthy of His choosing. But that only leads to disappointment and discouragement. I can never find in me anything that would possibly explain God’s gifts. However, when I look at His love as the reason for what He has done, then it all starts making sense. And I find that I need this to make sense.

Love isn’t only something that God has. Love is what God is.

^KJV 1 John 4:16

¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

The other day I was praying about some things that have been bothering me for some time. I had been going around the same mountain for too long, and I was ready for a change. I told God that I was willing to learn whatever it was He wanted to teach me, and I thanked Him for allowing me to learn to “eat from His hand.” I didn’t complain, or cry, or beg…although I felt like it. Instead I just thanked Him for what He has been doing. I even stopped trying to figure out what He is doing and what the enemy is doing and what I am not doing. I simply thanked Him, and I thanked Him because He is only good, and He wishes only good for me.

^NIV Colossians 3:15

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Travels in India

Mark 16:17,18 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it
shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall
recover.”
That verse nagged at me. Signs follow believers. I had seen many great and
wonderful things in my life as a Christian. God has answered prayers, and I
have seen healing and other great examples of the power of God. However,
when I read the Gospel records and the Book of Acts, I saw that signs,
miracles, and healings were normal, everyday occurrences. These things
were unusual occurrences in my life, and I wanted that to change.
When I heard about the great things Sangat was doing in India, I decided to
drive to New Jersey to meet him. That was in November of 2003. After we
had spent some hours talking and getting to know each other better, I asked
if I could come and visit him. To my surprise, he asked when I wanted to
come. That answer put me on the spot, so I prayed about it and made a
commitment that I would go in the spring. I also asked Tom West, a friend
of mine from California, if he wanted to join me, and he decided to come, too.
On March 25th we flew to England for a week and visited with some
believers; then on April 1st we went to New Delhi. A trip that would change
my life had begun.
As the plane descended for landing in India, I asked myself, “Do you know
what you are doing?” My mind was a mix of anticipation, questions,
excitement, and a little anxiety. I did not know what to expect, but deep
down, I knew God wanted me go. Besides, there was no turning back now.
When we arrived in New Delhi, Sangat and two believers, Buphinder and
his son, Ashish, met us. Seeing them waiting for us brought a wave of relief,
and I forgot any anxiety I had. Buphinder and Ashish swept up our bags
and before we knew it, we were driving off to Sangat’s home. The adventure
of a lifetime had begun.
The next day (Friday) we awoke to an American-style breakfast that
Sangat’s wife, Beautrice, had made. We met two of the girls, Priya and
Nozomi, as they went off to school in their British-looking uniforms. Preet,
the oldest of the girls, was introduced later, as was Sanbi, their son. They
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made every effort to see that we were comfortable. In fact, Preet had given
up her bedroom for Tom and I to share during our stay at their home.
After breakfast, Tom and I wanted to go for a walk around the
neighborhood. We were interested to take in the new sights and sounds
from a world we had never seen with our own eyes. As we walked down
Sangat’s street and around the corner, we found that we were often the
objects of fascination in the neighborhood, as our new surroundings were to
us. People tended to stare at us, as we were peculiar-looking to the Indians
who lived there. As we walked around the block, we would see cars veer
around cows in the street and rickshaws that carried passengers about,
darting in and out of traffic. It was a very new environment for me--
everything was new and interesting.
That night Sangat held a fellowship in his home, and about one hundred
people came. As the believers arrived, there were introductions, and the
names were every bit as new as the Hindi language they spoke. Their
names were Buphinder, Ashish, Gopi Singh, Ram Singh, Daramphal, and
others like Stephen and Robinson—but the one thing we had in common
was the true Word of God and a desire to manifest the power of God in our
lives. I soon found that the boundaries of culture and language were erased
by the love of God and by the spirit of Christ in each one of us.
The fellowship started with singing and testimonies. Sangat explained that
he had to limit the testimonies to about one hour; otherwise, they could go
on for two hours or more. There was no shortage of deliverance in the
believers’ lives, from the small to the great. During the testimonies, we
heard about how God had set people free in body and mind, how He
answered prayers, and healing after healing had taken place. In fact, during
our stay in India, I found that I could have easily filled a book with the
miraculous things that were taking place every day.
Tom shared the Word that night, and then there was more singing,
accompanied by the harmonium (something like a cross between the
bagpipes and an accordion, with keys and a bellows) and the dulcet (a twosided
drum). After fellowship, Beautrice served a buffet-style dinner, and
people stayed and fellowshipped for some time. Many of the believers were
excited to come up to Tom and me and share how God had touched their
lives, and they were curious about our home fellowships and families. The
entire evening was a time of full sharing for everyone who wanted to
participate. Everyone who wanted to could give in some capacity. From
testimonies to prayers, to helping with dinner and set-up of the room, I saw
person after person joyfully giving and serving, and genuinely excited about
a God in Heaven who cares about them individually.
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Many of the believers in New Delhi operate the power of God in ministering
and healing themselves, or one another. Sangat told me that in New Delhi,
he rarely gets to minister to people outside of his own family because the
believers have been so well taught. The work in New Delhi is well
established, and there are about 15 fellowships there and a number of
fulltime ministers. The Hindi version of the Foundational Biblical Studies
class runs with great frequency, and there are a number of new believers
added almost regularly. The work in New Delhi was a great example of the
rise of the Word of God in the lives of the saints with each one reaching one
and the effective training of leadership.
This brings up a point that would be good to mention here. Sangat is not a
“one-man band”. He has held forth God’s Word to one person at a time,
faithfully and with consistency, and has raised up other faithful leaders who
in turn teach others. On the first Sunday of each month, Sangat holds a
leaders meeting where anyone who desires may attend. For three hours, he
teaches leadership principles from God’s Word and continues strengthening
the believers. These leaders are the ones who have been responsible for the
spread of God’s Word to other parts of India, and Sangat is quick to
acknowledge this. He does his job, which he told me was very easy. He said,
“I just teach God’s Word and encourage people to do it.” The results are
impressive—there are so many fellowships all over India that Sangat does
not have an exact count.
On Sunday morning, we went off on the next leg of our adventure to a newer
work in a small town named Jogiana. It was in this rural area in the
foothills of the Himalayas that we were to meet Gulab Singh and his family.
Gulab Singh had been witnessed to in New Delhi and soon started running
a fellowship there. After awhile, God put it in his heart to move back to his
hometown of Jogiana. When he told Sangat about his decision, Sangat said,
“That’s great. We’ll pray for you, and if you need anything let me know.”
Gulab Singh started a fellowship with his family, and he started repeating
the steps he had seen work in New Delhi: pray for God to bring you one
hungry person, then teach that person the Word about who we are in Christ,
and the power of God. Minister to people and get them delivered, and teach
them how to operate God’s power in their own lives.
I think I should mention here how Sangat has worked with his fellowlaborers
like Gulab Singh. When Gulab Singh had it in his heart to move his
family to Jogiana, he supported himself. However, when Sangat observed
that he was “ruling well”, i.e. moving the Word and bringing great
deliverance to God’s people, he offered to support him with the abundant
sharing. It was not going to be forever, but only until the abundant sharing
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there could support him. Then, Sangat asked that Gulab Singh share what
he did not need back to him, so he would be able to repeat the process
somewhere else. Gulab Singh also had the option of using this money to
“sponsor” another leader from his area, if he chose to do that. In this
manner, the Word is spreading quickly as individuals with ministries are
free to serve full time. Local areas support their own local leaders, and there
is not one central clearinghouse for the monies. Because of this practice,
there are now about seven full-time ministers in India and more on the way.
I Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of
double honour, especially they who labor in the word and
doctrine.”
When new people are witnessed to in India, they learn about the new birth
from Romans 10:9 and 10. Then they are immediately encouraged to speak
with tongues, interpret, prophesy, listen to God, cast out devils, and
minister healing. The “older” believers get the new person operating the
power of God as soon as possible. Then they are encouraged to get into the
classes for further instruction. Oftentimes, new people are casting out devils
and healing people and running fellowships in their homes before there is a
class available. However, after they have the foundational class, their
knowledge grows in leaps and bounds, and they are encouraged to do even
more. I never heard of anyone being discouraged from operating the power
of God. In fact, it was completely the opposite—it is expected.
Once on the road, it took us over 7 hours to go the 150 miles to Jogiana. The
simple physical act of going from point A to point B was difficult and
challenging. To me, driving was the complete picture of chaos—bicycles
pulling carts laden with sugar cane and small, three-wheeled vehicles (they
seemed like a cross between a golf cart and a banged-up VW Bug) that
clattered loudly and slowly down the highway, overloaded with passengers.
There were big trucks and small, cars, motorbikes and scooters, tractors,
and water buffalo pulling wagons, people pulling wagons, buses--all weaving
in and out of traffic, and of course, everyone blows his horn as often as
possible. Then there was the inevitable accident or people just stopped for
no apparent reason. Happily, though, we made it to the peaceful mountain
region where we were going.
Gulab Singh was very glad to have us visit. Sangat had not been there for
about a year, and there was going to be a very big fellowship that next day.
Many people were interested in our arrival. Neighbors peered out of houses,
and some meandered down the narrow streets to get a better look. Tom and
I, being from the U.S. were a real novelty to both the believers and the
5
neighborhood, and a visit from Sangat is always looked forward to with
great anticipation.
The next day, we awoke, shaved, and showered in hot water heated on a
wood fire. I had gotten up at about 5AM to get a good video shot of the
sunrise. As I walked back to Gulab Singh’s, I looked at all the homes in the
neighborhood, humble by any standards, all flat-roofed cinder block homes
and most with paint peeling in various degrees. There were some people
starting to work in the vast wheat fields, but they only used hand tools, like
sickles, to cut down the wheat.
Around 10AM the believers starting arriving for fellowship, and altogether,
about 150-175 people came; around seven or eight saints came in one of the
clattering, three-wheeled vehicles. Somehow, they managed to disgorge
themselves from what seemed an impossibly small space, piling out one by
one. About thirty believers came from the mountains (where there are about
500 believers) about 100 miles away, and the trip took them 6 hours. They
were to return the same way after the fellowship.
When the fellowship started, it began in much the same way as the
fellowship in New Delhi—there were songs and hymns written by the
believers, and the harmonium wheezed out its tunes in time with the dulcet.
Joyful singing filled the air, its words music strange to my ears. I noticed
that as I recognized more and more Hindi words, the songs carried a special
meaning to me. They were the simple, yet beautiful songs of praise to a real
and living God who is the One, True God. Then testimonies came by the
dozens, as more and more people shared signs, miracles, and wonders.
Exactly what Jesus Christ said would follow believers.
Tom, Sangat, and I each taught the Word, and then it was time for
ministering. After someone said, “Amen,” the three of us moved into an
adjacent bedroom, and we were joined by about 30 people, all who desired
healing of some sort. Sangat later told me that because of the unique nature
of our visit, that more people came for ministering. Many of the local
fellowship leaders and believers healed each other, but because it was a
special event to most everyone, the line grew long quickly.
One by one, each person told what he or she wanted, or were asked by the
person ministering, “What do you want?” The level of people’s believing was
tested, sometimes by asking them, “Do you believe God can heal you right
now?” When the answer was affirmative, the deliverance came
straightaway. When not, more work was needed for the individual’s
believing to get where it needed to be. This was done with love and patience,
with the end in mind of helping each person get the help desired. From
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counseling with God’s Word or ministering for specific pains to go away, to
trouble with devil spirits, all who believed, received--just as God’s Word
promises.
After the ministering, I got a big surprise when a woman walked up to me
and quickly bent down to touch my feet. I jumped back, not knowing what
she was doing. Robinson explained to me that she was showing me the
respect accorded a holy man. During our visit, this happened to me a
number of times, but I was always amazed that another person would hold
me in such high esteem.
Speaking of the women, they all wore traditional Indian garments in each
location we went, and they migrated to the right side of the room to sit down
for fellowship. The men all would make their ways to the left side of the
room. Men and women did not mix much, as far as I could tell. We did not
greet women with a hug, either; it was with hands together, as in prayer.
The word for “hello” is nah-mas-tey.
Men, women, and children would sit crossed-legged on the floor for hours at
a time, with only so much as a rug to sit on and the natural padding God
gave them. I do not recall ever hearing anyone complain, nor did I see
anyone fall asleep out of boredom. There was a reverence for God’s Word
that permeated each fellowship I witnessed, and a genuine eagerness to
hear what that Word had to say.
In the afternoon, I took a nap, and when I awoke, I found Sangat outside
with the thirty or so believers who had come from the mountains. They were
all sitting cross-legged in a semi-circle around him, and he was teaching
them the Word. He had just ministered healing to most of them because due
to a lack of time, they were missed before. These people had stayed after the
fellowship, even though the bus had left hours earlier for the 6-hour bus
ride back to the mountains. They would stay the night, although the only
place for them to sleep was under the stars or on a rug lying on the marble
floor. Not one of them complained.
That night after we had dinner, Ram Singh played more on the harmonium
and Ashish bonked rhythmically on the dulcet. The scene was something
incredible to me. Here we were, thousands of miles from anything vaguely
familiar, but everything was strangely very familiar. As I listened to the
music and singing, it seemed as though I could understand the words, and
as the believers got up to dance, I felt I was in place I belonged, a place
where the living Word of God was. As I watched the faces of these saints,
laughing and clapping with the music, I saw God’s living Word living in
them, and this verse came to mind…
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Luke 12:15 “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of
covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the
things which he possesseth.”
These believers were living abundantly; they were full of joy and peace,
manifesting the love of God, and, of course, the power of God. The
circumstances in which they lived were without the comforts many of us
have come to think of as necessities—no microwave ovens, no cable
television, and no video games—yet they were blessed with things just as
tangible, and, in reality, more important to living life than flush toilets and
refrigerators.
The next morning, we left Jogiana, only after an Indian breakfast and many
snapshots and tearful goodbyes. The first half of my education in India was
over. The next area we would visit would prove to be a difficult lesson for me
but, I am sure, one I will not quickly forget. As we drove by fields of wheat
and the landscaped dotted here and there with the temples of idols, Jogiana
was now a memory. Now it was back on the road for more “excitement”.
We did manage to survive another harrowing 7-hour car ride back to New
Delhi, just in time to freshen up, sleep, and get up the next morning to go to
the train station in New Delhi for our next trip (I joked that driving in India
would make a great video game). Beautrice was very hospitable and kind, as
usual, and had a big breakfast waiting for us when we got up. (Any concerns
my wife may have had that I was not eating well could be put to rest). We
said our goodbyes to Beautrice and the kids and then drove off to the train
station.
At the station, we were met by what were now our constant traveling
companions. There was Buphinder, Ashish, Gopi Singh, Ram Singh,
Robinson, Stephen, and Daramphal. These were all wonderful men of God,
all of varying ages. They, among others, are the stalwarts that God needs
for His Word to move effectively, and they are the living examples of men
who genuinely serve God and love His Word.
They had all decided that they did not want to miss the trip we were taking
now, which was to a new work in a city called Kanpur. Buphinder had
opened the work there in much the same way that Gulab Singh opened
Jogiana. He just got it in his heart to go, and he went. As a result, many
people have been set free and are hearing about the One, True God. They
have run at least on Hindi Foundational class, and many hungry people are
waiting for Buphinder to return when he will run two more of these classes.
8
Soon we sped off in a new train, had breakfast (again) and flashed past
some of the human debris living in deplorable conditions along the way.
This was something else that amazed me about my trip to India, which is
what years of idolatry have done to the people. Now, with any idolatry, you
invite trouble; we should all be aware of that. A person can worship
themselves, money, the trinity—whatever, and it will bring mental,
spiritual, financial trouble, and other evils. However, when people give
themselves entirely to the worship of that idol, there is BIG trouble, and
that is what I saw living along the railroad tracks to Kanpur. It was
something that reminded me of a futuristic wasteland from a sci-fi movie, as
if people had been poured out of a vat along with garbage and waste and left
to fend for themselves. It was difficult to look at.
Another amazing thing was what happens when those same people turn to
the One, True God. It takes them out of their cesspools and brings them into
God’s marvelous light. In India, it was obvious something is broken, but I
also witnessed that it is being fixed. Sickness and diseases of many kinds
are healed, devil spirits are cast out, and broken lives are being repaired. It
reminds me of the woman who wiped the lord’s feet with her tears, which
loved much because she was forgiven of much. When people go from such
inky blackness of despair, the glorious light of God’s Word must be
remarkable. It is, and when His people are set free and are thankful to Him,
the response is equally remarkable.
I was tempted to think that what was happening in India could not happen
in this country. I had the usual excuses like: they are more spiritual, they
are worse off, etc. However, the adversary is just as much at work here, and
people are in as much need of deliverance. Only God and His power can cut
through the oppression or smug complacency and self-satisfaction that
affects so many, or the outright grip of devil spirits and disease.
When we arrived at Kanpur, I was shocked at what I saw. I do not think
anything could have prepared me for the noise, filth, foul smells and
confusion there. I imagined I saw chaos on the road to Jogiana, but that was
tolerable to me compared to this. It seemed like the evil genius himself had
devised this place, and then half-buried it in filth and garbage and given
everyone a car or bicycle to fill the streets.
Our hotel room was comfortable; it had a television and air conditioning, but
no hot running water. That was not such a big problem; we would call the
front desk, and hot water was sent up to us. That room became a haven of
rest to me from the chaotic and extremely noisy world outside. That night
we were to venture into the angry sea of the pandemonium as we were
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invited to the home of Buphinder’s cousin, a Chinese immigrant named
Mark Chang. A cab took us on a 20-minute ride to his apartment, a measly
3 miles away. The streets were so choked with every imaginable vehicle and
animal-drawn cart; I could hardly believe my eyes. Again, just the act of
getting from here to there was frustrating to me, but the Indian believers
were used to it. They just relaxed and enjoyed the ride.
The condition of the Chang’s apartment would have sent many American
building inspectors into an apoplectic fit. Bare wires were exposed in the
stairwells leading to his apartment; more filth and discarded things left
lying about, and a workman busily plying his trade in the middle of one
floor, unaware that someone might trip over his tools. Their apartment was
simple, almost rude, and the scene made even less sense to me when I
learned that both Mark and his brother were dentists, and both families
shared the same flat.
In spite of all this, there were wonderful miracles happening in Kanpur.
Among them was a boy who had been healed of a late stage of diabetes. The
boy had become a beggar and was wasting away. He nearly died but had
been healed by Buphinder and Mark’s brother, Rocky Chang. We heard of
more miracles during dinner at the Chang’s, and these many testimonies
were stirring the hearts of our hosts.
As we made our way to the fellowship the next day, we passed through a
veritable sea of humanity and animals. Kanpur is a sprawling city of several
million inhabitants, small compared to New Delhi, which is about 12
million; and the neighboring city of Unow is where we were to have
fellowship. I stopped trying to determine how long it was taking to get from
place to place and just enjoyed the fellowship along the way. The odd
mixture of modes of travels from various centuries was beyond my control
anyway.
When we arrived at the building where the fellowship would be held, we
were greeted by some of the local leaders. We met a wonderful believer
named Tiwari who had been a Hindu priest, but now was a Christian. He
was spreading the Word of God to a local church that had recently struck
out on its own, the people having tired of the restrictions put on them by the
church leaders. They were a spiritually hungry bunch, to put it mildly.
Anywhere from 150-175 people crammed into a large upstairs room,
accommodated by only one fan, and outside it was about 95 degrees.
Imagine how hot it got in the meeting room!
Again, the believers were crammed in crossed-legged on the floor, women on
this side, and men on that side. Something like a flower lei was put around
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our necks, and many people took snapshots of us. After two hours of songs
and testimonies, Tom, Sangat and I taught the Word. While Tom and I
shared, Sangat or someone else would interpret. It made things move more
slowly, but neither the pace of the meeting nor the temperature dampened
anyone’s enthusiasm for the Word. In addition, many of the people were
amazed when they heard interpretation of tongues and prophesy. After this,
there was more singing, praying, and testimonies. After a four-and-one-half hour
fellowship, someone said “Amen”, and then people seeking ministering
swarmed us as if on cue.
I think the whole meeting went on for almost six hours, especially when you
include the dinner that the believers prepared for us. When all was said and
done, we headed off for the hotel, once again to fight our way through the
knots of things and beings on the road. When we finally made to our hotel, I
was tired and opted to take a nap. When I awoke, Sangat told me that some
of the believers that Tiwari was working with were coming to his hotel room
for more fellowship. It took them about an hour to get there, and when they
arrived, they asked questions of all for about two more hours. After that,
they went home. They just could not get enough.
The next morning we had the excitement of riding a rickshaw to the train
station. Our bags were loaded into the basket in the back of the rickshaw,
and then our wiry drivers slowly picked up speed. We weaved around more
cows, cars, scooters, and a variety of vehicles to finally get to the train
station. We bid Tiwari and the others farewell and hopped on the train back
to Delhi.
I have to say that visiting the believers at Kanpur was like nothing I have
ever experienced. The hunger in the eyes of many of the believers touched
me very deeply. In spite of the place that Kanpur is, I left believing that if
God’s Word could live there—and it is living there—God’s Word can live
anywhere.
After we got back to New Delhi, a tremendous believer named Vijay treated
Tom, Sangat and me to dinner at a hotel where Bill Clinton stayed
whenever he was in India. I knew it would be no Motel 6. The restaurant
was a shock to my senses, but in the opposite way that Kanpur had been.
They catered to us in every way, and the lavish surroundings were eerily
unreal, especially after having seen such poverty in Kanpur. I stared at the
over-sized drink menu, with one page dedicated to fine scotch, the facing
page listing imported cigars. My head was swimming as the two waiters
patiently anticipated our wishes. I thought about those saints in Kanpur,
and I felt a twinge of guilt. Here I was in one of the world’s finest
restaurants, waited on hand and foot, trying to decide what cigar to get. I
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decided to not feel guilty, and against the cigars, and to allow Vijay’s
generosity to bless me. I smoked tobacco from a hookah while sipping a
scotch that was as smooth as a baby’s behind. We could only finish the
appetizers because the portions were so large, which we enjoyed while
watching a Lebanese Belly dancer.
Our last day in New Delhi was a slow day of shopping with Sangat,
Beautrice, Sanbi, and Tom. We picked out gifts for our return home, and we
were surprised again at the Bains’ generosity. They ended up buying almost
all the gifts we picked out for the saints in our home fellowships. Sangat
patiently drove us from store to store, making sure that we could buy
everything we wanted.
The last night at Sangat’s home was the icing on the cake for me. I had been
filming much of our journey for a documentary, and I wanted to interview
Sangat as part of it. I wanted to get some of his thoughts on tape, and
questions that I believed other believers would like answered. He set forth
what I like to think of as a template for moving God’s Word anywhere in the
world: how the Word started to move there, how he handles abundant
sharing, the appointment of leaders, and many other things. Rather than
set out every detail here, I will suggest you watch the documentary.
Our seven fellow travelers went with us to the airport, only after giving Tom
and me gifts for our families. They are sitting on the mantle above my
fireplace. So, when you come to visit you can see them there, a reminder of
the love they showed to us while we were there. Ashish gave both Tom and
me a Hindi-English dictionary, and I understand my tests will start soon. It
will be a big help for my next trip to India. Should the lord tarry, I would
love to go back and visit again the saints who touched my life so beautifully
while I was there. I had been enriched with a renewed passion for my
wonderful God that I caught from the believers in India.
Yours truly,
Taylor Overbey
Muskegon, Michigan
April 22, 2004