Bangalore - Neighbourhood Evangelism

Whatever happened to Neighbourhood Evangelism? ( R.Stanley)

Jesus was first a neighbourhood Evangelist before He became a frontier Missionary. Luke reports that after His wilderness experience He returned in the power of the Spirit and started teaching in His own hometown of Nazareth (Lk 4:13-16). Only afterwards He shifted His base to Capernaum to preach in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali (Mt 4:13). Frontier missionary work, if it must be strong and healthy, must be an extension of neighbourhood evangelism or a development of it. Jesus recruited “fishers of men” primarily for neighbourhood evangelism, and then challenged them to pray for a workforce for distant fields (Mt 4:19, 23,25; 9:37,38). This does not mean that we cannot think of frontier missions until the neighbourhood is totally evangelised. On the other hand, one cannot substitute the other. Sacrificing one for the other will be detrimental to Church growth. We come across four orders of Jesus to “Go” in the context of evangelism— 1. “Go home to your friends and tell them what great things God has done for you” (Mk 5:19) 2. “Go into the streets, highways and byways, and bring them in” (Mt 22:9) 3. “Go into the village opposite to you” (Lk 19:30) 4. “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15) Surprisingly, three out of these four orders refer to neighbourhood evangelism—“home... streets...villages.” The European and Western missionaries did not wait for their entire countries to be evangelised before they could come to a land like India. At the same time, whenever neighbourhood evangelism was neglected such regions started turning pagan. Silent majority The shepherds in the Christmas story were the first neighbourhood evangelists. We read, “When they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marvelled at those which were told them by the shepherds” (Lk 2:17,18). In general, only “fulltimers” can go for frontier missionary work. But neighbourhood evangelism is for any Christian to directly involve in. A soul in the neighbourhood is no less precious than one in a distant field. “All souls are mine,” says the Lord (Ezek 18:4). He does not want “anyone” to perish, but desires “all men” to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (Jn 3:16; 1 Tim 2:3,4). Anyone who is without Christ is a mission field! The only way to stir up the silent majority in the Church for action is to challenge and involve them in neighbourhood evangelism. We spend too much of our time and energy in decorating our frontyard forgetting the backyard. Saturation Evangelism The Resurrected Christ gave His disciples a blueprint for evangelism in Acts 1:8, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jerusalem and all Judea were the neighbourhood for the disciples, whereas Samaria and the other parts of the world would involve cross-cultural frontier missionary work. The anti-Christian religious leaders charged the disciples, “You have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine” (Acts 5:28). The Christians of each locality and Church must be challenged for this kind of saturation evangelism. Not all Pastors are evangelistic-minded. It is the responsibility of the members and workers and leaders of missionary organisations and evangelistic agencies to pass on the passion for souls to the Christians of Churches they belong to. Frontline Soldiers Fulltime Christian workers alone cannot complete the task of world evangelisation. I don’t grow tired of quoting missionary evangelist T.L. Osborn: “The laymen will write the last chapter of Church History...Restoration of the art of personal soulwinning will be the rediscovery of New Testament Christianity!” I would shout a loud “Amen” to this though I am a fulltime preacher myself! Unless we raise an army of personal soulwinners we will not get enough of dynamic candidates for frontier evangelism. It is from among the active and prayerful disciples, Jesus chose twelve frontline missionaries (Mt 9:37-10:4). A young man appeared before a Mission Board which was interviewing candidates for frontier missions. One leader asked him, “What are you actually doing for God where you are?” The young man answered, “Not much.” The leader asked back, “Do you want to go to the mission field to repeat this?” A Tamil proverb says, “If you cannot catch a lizard in your own place, how can you catch an elephant elsewhere?”  Extract or Equip? The doctrine of the Priesthood of all Believers is more a theory than a practice in Christendom (1 Pet 2:5,9). The clergy-laity divide will only be further widened if neighbourhood evangelism is not sufficiently emphasised as equally important as frontier missionary work. The saintly Andrew Murray observed: “There are only two groups of Christians: one soulwinners and the other backsliders!” With the mushrooming of missionary-sending agencies, we have too many supporters and too few soulwinners. Think of a hall filled with only pillars! Missionary organisations are apprehensive of motivating Christians for neighbourhood evangelism, perhaps because they are afraid that the people might spend too much of their time and energy in neighbourhood evangelism to spare time for the promotional works of these organisations. Missions periodicals are filled with reports and appeals leaving little space to challenge the readers for personal involvement in neighbourhood evangelism. In Missionary Conventions there’s hardly a full-length talk on personal soulwinning. The entire programme targets mobilisation of funds, prayer and candidates for fulltime work. This trend may help missionary societies to grow, but it’s unhealthy for the Body of Christ. The very purpose of the fivefold ministries in the Church is to “equip” the believers for the “ministry” (Eph 4:11-13).  Nazareth to Naphtali In every other missionary organisation there’s tension between the administrative leaders and the field workers. The cry of the field missionaries is that the administrators don’t understand their problems. Here again the solution lies in neighbourhood evangelism. One who is not an ardent soulwinner is not qualified to oversee and lead soulwinners, harvesters and church-planters. Jesus not only “sent” missionaries; He also “went” forth preaching the Gospel (Lk 10:1). Apostle Paul followed the same example. The active and aggressive neighbourhood evangelism of the College Prayer group I started in 1963 in Karaikudi became the seedbed for the Blessing Youth Mission which was founded in 1970-71. Before ever coming across any handbook on evangelism, we learnt the principles of evangelism with hand-on-plough by applying whatever we had observed in the Scriptures. After coordinating the ministerial affairs of the BYM at the national level, from the central administrative office in Vellore for 17 years, my wife and I moved from State to State every two years, for about 10 years, to be a part of our field missionary teams in their neighbourhood evangelistic efforts. It is this experience which gave the cutting edge to our missionary challenge sermons, in print or from pulpit. Neighbourhood evangelism begets frontier missionary work. A Model Church Thank God for the historical slogan, “Go or Send!”, coined by the Canadian missionary Statesman, Dr. Oswald J. Smith (1889-1986). This slogan had a specific reference to overseas missions. Since we cannot afford this luxury of an option in a country like India, we modified it as, “Go and Send!” Unfortunately, folks have chosen the easier alternative. Most of the missionary-minded Christians stop and are satisfied with praying and paying for missionary work. They hardly involve themselves in any direct evangelism in their localities. But the case with the Thessalonian believers was different. Paul commended them, “From you the Word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out...” (1 Thess 1:8). Macedonia and Achaia were the neighbourhood for the Christians of the city of Thessalonica. I am convinced that when local Churches become aggressive in neighbourhood evangelism, the total evangelisation of the world will not be far off. No wonder Paul presented the Thessalonian Church as a model for others (v 7) Training ground Neighbourhood evangelism will be a spontaneous outcome of a Christian who is genuinely converted and a Church which is gloriously revived. The immediate spill-over of the flow of God’s love into the lives of Christians will first influence their neighbourhood. This is God’s promise: “I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing” (Ezek 34:26). This was pictoriously illustrated by Christ as “a city on a hill” (Mt 5:14). After serving this example and that of a lamp kept on a lampstand to benefit the residents, He said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may SEE your good works and glorify the Father in Heaven” (vv15,16). Only the neighbours can “SEE” you! Following his conversion, Apostle Paul started off as a neighbourhood evangelist. He first evangelised Damascus where he was baptized (Acts 9:19-22). He moved to Jerusalem, about 200 kilometers away, mainly because the Jews in Damascus plotted to kill him (vv 23-26). He followed the blueprint Jesus gave in Acts 1:8 (Acts 26:20). Those who are zealous in neighbourhood evangelism usually do very well if they step out for frontier ministries. In the early years of the ministry of the Blessing Youth Mission, most of the missionary candidates came out of the hundreds of lay outreach teams which were active in their respective localities in personal soulwinning, street preaching, visitation evangelism and rural outreach. On the average, the quality of such candidates has been class apart. Charity begins at home, isn’t it? Endtime Army Joel’s prophecy concerning the endtime outpouring of the Holy Spirit leading to an unprecedented ingathering of souls includes entire families as prophetic communities to proclaim God’s wonderful works. “Sons...daughters... young men... old men... menservants... maidservants” (Acts 2:17,18). This definitely and primarily refers to neighbourhood evangelism. Otherwise, how can “old men” travel to distant lands, or, servants leave their domestic responsibilities for frontier missions? We see an immediate fulfillment of this prophecy in the life of the early Church. The cottages of Christians became the centres of evangelism. That’s how they could influence their neighbours and win “the favour of all the people.” The result was daily addition to the Church! (Acts 2:46,47). We normally pray, “Lord, do it again!” Instead we need to say, “Let’s do it again!” Every Home Crusade Apostle Paul never forgot the strategic importance of house-to-house neighbourhood evangelism. Besides his public proclamation of the Gospel, he visited homes to communicate the message in person to the residents (Acts 20:20). While targeting the Greeks, he did not lose sight of the Jews (v21). In our context, the Greeks represent non-Christians and the Jews nominal Christians. Thousands and thousands of nominal Christians remain nominal for years, simply because the born-again Christians do not take pains to lead them one by one to repentance and faith. I am a fruit of personal soulwinning. My Chemistry Professor led me to Christ. Before sending out the twelve disciples for cross-cultural missionary evangelism, Jesus told them first to go to the “lost sheep of Israel” (Mt 10:5,6). Dear Christian friend, start praying for your nominal Christian neighbours regularly and win them one by one. There’s nothing like the joy of soulwinning! Fruit-bearing means reproduction. It is not optional. “Every” branch that does not bear fruit will be cut off. These words of Jesus cannot be taken lightly (Jn 15:2). Collection or Conversion? Paul did not go house to house to collect money for his missionary efforts. While addressing the Ephesian elders, he testified, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel” (Acts 20:33). He worked with his own hands to earn for his ministerial expenses and to pay the bills of his team members (v34). He visited the folks to “give” them something rather than to “receive” something from them (v35). He operated on the teaching of Jesus: “It’s more blessed to give than to receive!” I am not against collecting contributions from Christians for God’s work. But that must not be the primary purpose in visiting homes. Go to minister to them___ to exhort, edify and encourage. Gone are the days when Christians would carry Gospel tracts in shoulder bags. Now they carry receipt books! In some places, Church authorities have banned certain missionary organisations because the promotional workers of these organisations have gone to the extent of standing at Church gates to collect monthly contributions and issue receipts. The target set by missions for fund-raising has indirectly pressurised many zealous Christians to give up personal soulwinning efforts. Is this right? Is it God’s method? Have organisations grown beyond God’s plan for them? Some stocktaking is necessary at this stage.  Paganism next door I urge Christians everywhere to plan a regular neighbourhood evangelistic programme. The activities can include distribution of Gospel tracts in street corners and marketplaces, open-air preaching, house-to-house visitation, ministry to the inmates of hospitals, prisons, rehabilitation centres and the like, rural outreach, weekend evangelistic campaigns and so on. Form a local team and work out the details. Gather atleast once a week for about two hours to pray exclusively for your activities suggested above. Besides giving to your local Church and supporting missionary organisations and evangelistic agencies from the amount you set aside each month for the Lord, keep a portion for your own direct expenses for neighbourhood evangelism. One need not go to the tribes in jungles and mountains to see paganism. Right on the main streets of our cities and towns we come across torturous practices of devotees to appease their deities. Heathenism is right there everywhere. At times we see more of North India in South India than in North India. We must not equate economic and social backwardness to Gospel ignorance. It’s commonplace to see the most educated and civilized among us holding stupid superstitious beliefs.  Gossip the Gospel! If Christians are the “light of the world,” every Christian home much be a lighthouse. If we are not responsible to lead our neighbours to the Light of Life, who else is? When the shepherd found out his lost sheep, and the woman her lost silver coin, the first thing both of them did was to call their friends and neighbours and share the joy with them (Lk 15: 6,9). It is written, “There will be shouts of salvation in the tabernacle of the righteous” (Psa 118:15). Let the neighbours hear it first! Each Christian is like a “leaven” in the “lump” of his neighbourhood. Let it all be leavened up! In His parable of the leaven, Jesus spoke of this as the work of a woman! (Mt 13:33). Apostle Paul warned against womenfolk becoming “idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not” (1 Tim 5:13). Why not gossip the Gospel? Use your talking talent for God! Let’s talk about Jesus, the King of kings is He; The Lord of lords supreme, through all eternity; The great I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Door; Let’s talk about Jesus more and more! Who is our Lazarus? The second commandment, equal to the first and the greatest commandment, given by Jesus, is that one should love his “neighbour” as himself (Mt 22:39). We are experiencing the joy of forgiveness. Do our neighbours have that joy? We have found the only Way to Heaven. Do our neighbours know that? We have peace that passes all understanding. Do our neighbours enjoy that peace? If salvation is so great, how can we neglect to share its message with our neighbours? To point out who our neighbour is, Jesus presented the story of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:29-37). It is when we help anyone in need whom we meet as we go about with our routine we become a good “neighbour” to that person. We send support to the havenots in distant places, but we ignore the Lazarus at our doorstep! Who cares for the platform-dwellers and ragpickers in our own towns and cities? Following Pentecost the believers shared their possessions first with the poor and the needy among themselves. We read that there was not anyone “among them” who lacked. This was the secret of their strength as a community (Acts 4:34,35). Vision for faroff places must not make us blind to the needs in our vicinity. He who does not love his brother whom he has “seen,” how can he love someone somewhere whom he has not seen? Jesus said, The poor are always “with you!” (Jn 12:8). The first resurrection miracle in the early Church was performed on a woman named Dorcas who was “full of good works and charitable deeds” towards the widows who were her neighbours (Acts 9:36-41). Anywhere, anytime! One who knows the power and possibility of neighbourhood evangelism will never run out of job. He will be instantly employed wherever he is placed. Look at Paul. God put him in Athens, a city of idols. He had to wait for a while in this city for Silas and Timothy to come and join him. See what he was doing during those few days: “He reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshippers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there” (Acts 17:16,17). Throw him into a prison and here’s what he would testify: “I want you to know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and all the rest, that my chains are in Christ!” (Phil 1:12,13). Let a shipwreck land him in an unknown island. He would conduct a 3-day healing campaign there! (Acts 28:7-9).  Slogan or Action? Most of our Churches have only adopted the missionaries of mission agencies, not birthed them. Even when, say, 10 missionaries are sent from and supported by a 1000 member congregation, the Church has mobilized only 1% of its force for direct evangelism. But if it can challenge every member of the congregation to win just one other person in the neighbourhood for Christ in a matter of one year’s time, every year its strength will be doubled! It’s mind-boggling. But this is how the early Church grew. Only when this happens, we can say, “The whole Church is carrying the whole Gospel to the whole World!” Otherwise, this will remain merely as a slogan to decorate the brochures of international mission conferences! Thanks to Bangalore BYMers - Bro.Subbegowda & Team -2016 Jun

"No one seems to care" - Missionary Henry Morrison -What he felt may be wrong...

After forty years of faithful service to the Lord as a missionary to Africa, Henry Morrison and his wife were returning to New York.  As the ship neared the dock, Henry said to his wife, "Look at that crowd.  They haven't forgotten about us".  However, unknown to Henry, the ship also carried President Teddy Roosevelt, returning from a big game hunting trip in Africa.  Roosevelt stepped from the boat, with great fanfare, as people  were cheering, flags were waving,  bands were playing, and reporters waiting for his comment, Henry and his wife slowly walked away unnoticed.  They hailed a cab, which took them to the one bedroom apartment which had been provided by the mission board.

    (Missionary Henry Morrison)

Over the next few weeks, Henry tried, but failed to put the incident behind him.  He was sinking deeper into depression when one evening, he said to his wife, "This is all wrong.  This man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody throws a big party.  We give our lives in faithful service to God for all these many years, but no one seems to care."

(President Teddy Roosevelt - after hunting)

His wife cautioned him that he should not feel this way.  Henry replied "I know you're right, but I just can't help it.  It just isn't right."

His wife then said, "Henry, you know God doesn't mind if we honestly question Him.  You need to tell this to the Lord and get this settled now.  You'll be useless in His ministry until you do."

Henry Morrison then went to his bedroom, got down on his knees and, shades of Habakkuk, began pouring out his heart to the Lord.  "Lord, you know our situation and what's troubling me.  We gladly served you faithfully for years without complaining.  But now God, I just can't get this incident out of my mind..."

After about ten minutes of fervent prayer, Henry returned to the living room with a peaceful look on his face.  His wife said "It looks like you've resolved the matter.  What happened?"

Henry replied, "The Lord settled it for me.  I told Him how bitter I was that the President received this tremendous homecoming, but no one even met us as we returned home.  When I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'But Henry, you are not home yet!'"

Dr.Jaishanker – A Life of Sacrifice and Service !

Dr.M.Jaishanker was born in a Hindu family on 3rd February 1967 in Tuticorin, TamilNadu. Providence brought the young Jaishanker to the Mission School in Mudalur. It was during his school days, he was introduced to the love of Christ by Mr. Ashokan (Present Director of Bethel Welfare Center). He passed school with high colors and got admitted in Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery (BSMS) at Tirunelveli in the year 1986. It was during his life at college, he got introduced to the SFJ (Students for Jesus) prayer cell, the students wing of BYM. He became an active member of the cell and eventually became its leader.Burdened by the need in the mission field, he joined as a volunteer to help in the medical work at Ramagiri. By this time Dr. Mrs. Lilian Stanley had opened a small clinic in Ramagiri and was praying for a suitable person to take her place.

Dr. Jaishanker was God’s person for Ramagiri. In the year 1992 he joined Blessing Youth Mission as a full-time missionary doctor. Ramagiri was his first mission field and eventually would become his home for the next 12 years. Dr.Jaishanker immediately connected with the local people and was fondly called as ‘Doctor Babu.’ He was also working closely with the doctors at Asha Kiran Mission Hospital, 70kms from Ramagiri.

In 1993 he married Florence. She was working as a development officer in RUHSA, an extension wing of Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), Vellore. Jaishankar and Florence were instrumental in starting the Home for boys in Ramagiri. Ramagiri is an interior village, totally cut off from the main towns in Southern Odisha. He struggled for 7 years to secure electricity for the mission station. In those days when landline phones were the only source of communication, they had to travel upto 22kms to the nearest STD booth to make a phone call.

Dr. Jaishanker succeeded and the first number  was given to our mission station. Dr.Jaishanker, along with the local village leaders started a High School in Ramagiri. He was also a member of the local Panchayat Board and the High School governing body. They also arranged higher education for the kids. Many of them are now Post Graduates working with Odisha Government, Odisha Police and CRPF. A considerable size of the students are now serving the Lord in Odisha.

Dr. Jaishanker along with his wife also helped start a Girls’ Home in Umerkote area, another mission station like Ramagiri. They also initiated partnership with several organizations for the development and health work. It was through partnership with EFICOR later we came in contact with COMPASSION INDIA which helped us to start a Day Care Center at Cherka, a village in Ramagiri area. The missionary couple had their times of struggles and sufferings. They had several attacks of Malaria. Mrs. Florence Jaishanker had an ectopic pregnancy. With pain, she travelled on bike 70kms to the Mission Hospital nearby. They are now blessed with Nehemiah Wesley (15 years) and Mary Ida (7 years).

In 2006, they shifted to Head Quarters and later Dr. Jaishanker was appointed as the Manager for Head Quarters. In 2011 they shifted to Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh to look after the Social Concerns Projects in Northern India. Dr.Jaishanker was burdened about the Ramagiri clinic which was closed down after 2010 due to lack of staff. In June 2013 he arranged for 2 girls from Tamil Nadu for the clinic. He had a training program in Asha Kiran (the Mission Hospital, Odisha).

 On 11th of July 2013 he left Jeypore by 8am in the morning in heavy rains and never made it to the Hospital. His body was retrieved from the river on 13th July after a massive search operation. It was concluded that he might have been washed away with his motorbike while trying to cross an overflowing stream which ran across the mountain road. The Home boys carried him and laid him to rest in Ramagiri. His funeral was attended by more than 500 people. ‘Doctor Babu’ was no more.

Let his life be a challenge to us and let us follow his footsteps of sacrifice and service!

— Complied by Mr. Kishore Jagat and missionary Jerisha.

FMPB leader Bro.Stanley Prince passed away

Friends of Bangalore BYM feel very sad for the demise of FMPB pioneer leader Bro.Stanley Prince. He went to be with the Lord at 6 pm on Friday, Nov 6th. 2015.

His preaching style was very unique and very strict. His ministry was oriented towards the youth. Many of our current FMPB leaders, missionaries and lay-leaders heeded the voice of God based on his powerful sermons. He was a role model to many with his simple lifestyle and strict morals.

He worked as a teacher in his early life, before joining FMPB. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Christy and two sons. Mrs. Christy mobilizes funds for FMPB at ponnagaram, even now at her old age. His eldest son works in Coimbatore. His youngest son works in West Bengal as a Missionary.

Stanley Prince annan was affected by Parkinson disease in his old age. But even after this sickness, he continued to preach while seated on a chair.

His last words to Madurai Prayer Group
“போக வேண்டிய தூரம் வெகு தூரம்... சந்திக்க வேண்டிய கூட்டம் இன்னும் அநேகம்..”  “the distance to go is still a lot more… the people that need to be met are still so many…”

Let us praise God for his life, and pray that he would raise many, many leaders like him. Let us also remember his family in our prayers.
 (Thanks to Premkumar Stephen)

Bangalore Blessing Youth Mission.
bymebe@gmail.com

YOGA AND THE CHRISTIAN by Sandeep Poonen

YOGA AND THE CHRISTIAN

Sandeep Poonen

cfc@cfcindia.com

Yoga is a Hindu science that claims to teach people how to unite their soul with the "Supreme Soul", and merge their will with the "Cosmic Will".

The practice of yoga has three main components: 
1) The physical exercise component,
2) The mental meditation component, and
3) The verbal chanting component. 

These three are combined to make yoga what it is.Let us think of these three separately. 

1) There is nothing inherently holy or evil about the physical exercise component by itself. If someone stretches his leg in a certain way, that is neither holy nor evil. None of the physical stretching exercises in yoga need be connected with any religion. So we can stretch our muscles and body parts even if it was a Hindu (or a Muslim or a Buddhist) who first taught it. A typical yoga lesson in Western countries may not emphasize the spiritual connection initially. So when people hear that some Christians are opposed to the practice of yoga, they wonder why. The reason is that the more advanced you get into yoga, you invariably move towards the ultimate purpose behind these exercises. So while breathing exercises may appear to be innocent initially, even these could be initial stepping stones that have its overall aim as "merging the individual will with the Cosmic Will."

2) When it comes to the mental meditation component, we need to recognize that meditation as prescribed in yoga is very different from the meditation taught of in the Bible. Yoga teaches people to empty their minds of all thoughts (good and bad) as they meditate. That is simply not the way a Christian must meditate. The Bible tells us to meditate on God's Word at all times. So we are not called to empty our minds, but rather to FILL our minds with God's Word - meditating especially on the verses that tell us how much God loves us (e.g. Psalm 139:17-18, Isaiah 49:15-16, Jeremiah 29:11, etc). And beyond that, to how the love of God compels us to obey His commands and change habits, thought patterns, and mindsets to reflect His love. Yoga prescribes a peace that comes from the vacuum of a fully-emptied mind. Christianity offers the peace of Jesus Christ through the filling of our hearts and minds with the Holy Spirit (John 14:26-27).

3) The verbal chanting component is what we must also avoid altogether. Yoga typically teaches people to keep chanting the word "Om" - a syllable that is supposed to be the highest manifestation of God-consciousness in Hinduism. The invoking of Om to relax is much more than a blind chant of some random syllable. It is an opening of the mind to other spirits. As Christians, we must never seek to achieve any sort of relaxation by such chants. We do not even chant the Name of Jesus, because that Name is not a 'mantra' - and our Lord specifically forbade us from using meaningless repetitions in prayer. The Lord gives us rest in our minds through the Holy Spirit and not by chanting.

It is best to avoid group yoga classes, as these classes are most often led by yoga instructors who subscribe to underlying yogic philosophy. Submitting to their instructions may possibly open your inner being to spirits other than the Holy Spirit, if you are not strong in the Lord. Even if you are strong in the Lord, your example may encourage weaker believers to go to such classes - and they may suffer. So, if there are certain stretches that help your body but also seem to be a yoga exercise, you could practice them on your own in your own home. But if you find any uneasiness in your spirit in doing them, then avoid even that. There are many other forms of exercise that you can engage in, to keep yourself physically fit.

I want to make one additional clarifying note in this context:

There are some who were involved in yoga before coming to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ, and have experienced the spiritual impact of Hindu yogic practices. When such people become Christians, it is best for them to avoid yoga altogether, even the physical exercise component. Others might be able to see those exercises as just harmless physical stretches, but those who have practiced this and delved into the mental and spiritual acts within yoga simply cannot see it that way anymore. So it's best that such people avoid yoga altogether and not be led into temptation.

I see a similar analogy to this in Romans 14, where Paul was dealing with two groups of people: one who felt that it was absolutely sinful to eat meat that had been offered to idols, while others had no problem with it. I can fully understand how absolutely abhorrent and sinful it must have been for those who had been used to offering meat to idols, to now feel that they could eat it. But yet we know that Paul himself didn't seem to have a problem eating food offered to idols (Rom.14:14). 

To me, the freedom expressed in Romans 14 for two very different points of view is my guide to how I have attempted to express my thoughts on yoga and the Christian.

Finally, let me end with this: We know the mind of the Spirit in all matters by peace in our hearts (Rom.8:6).

Elisabeth Elliot (wife of Jim Elliot) passed away Jun15,2015

( Thanks Wikipedia)

Elisabeth Elliot (née Howard; December 21, 1926 - June 15, 2015) was a Christian author and speaker. Her husband, Jim Elliot, was killed in 1956 while attempting to make missionary contact with the Auca (now known as Huaorani) of eastern Ecuador. She later spent two years as a missionary to the tribe members who killed her husband. Returning to the United States after many years in South America, she became widely known as the author of over twenty books and as a speaker in constant demand. Elliot toured the country, sharing her knowledge and experience, well into her seventies. ^[1]

Her book "Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot", 1958 has blessed many christians.

Biography She was born in Belgium, and her family included her missionary parents, four brothers and one sister. Elisabeth's brothers Thomas Howard and David Howardare also authors.

Her family moved to the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia in the U.S. when she was a few months old.^[2] In addition to Philadelphia, she lived in Franconia, New Hampshire and Moorestown, New Jersey. She studied Classical Greek at Wheaton College, believing that it was the best tool to help her with the calling of ultimately translating the New Testament into an unknown language. It was here that she met Jim Elliot. Prior to their marriage, Elisabeth took a post-graduate year of specialized studies at Prairie Bible Institute in Alberta, Canada, where a campus prayer chapel is named in her honor. Jim Elliot and Elisabeth Howard went individually to Ecuador to work with the Quichua Indians; they married in 1953 in the city of Quito, Ecuador. But before she started work, she listened to the words of Maruja, a woman of a neighboring tribe. She was held captive for one year by the Huaorani. She stated that the tribe was fierce and they acted like savages, but she also stated that the women were likeable and kind. Their daughter, Valerie (born 1955), was 10 months old when her father was killed. Elisabeth continued her work with the Quechua for two more years.

Two Huaorani women living among the Quichua, including one named Dayuma, taught the Huao language to Mrs. Elliot and fellow missionary Rachel Saint. When Dayuma returned to the Huaorani, she created an opening for contact by the missionaries. In October 1958, Mrs. Elliot went to live with the Huaorani with her three-year-old daughter Valerie and Rachel Saint.

The Auca/Huaorani gave Elisabeth the tribal name Gikari, Huao for "Woodpecker." She later returned to the Quichua and worked with them until 1963, when she and Valerie returned to the US (Franconia, New Hampshire).

In 1969, Elisabeth married Addison Leitch, professor of theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton,Massachusetts. Leitch died in 1973. In the fall of 1974 she became an Adjunct Professor on the Faculty of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and for several years taught a popular course entitled "Christian Expression." In 1977, she married Lars Gren, a Hospital Chaplain. The Grens later worked and traveled together.

In the mid-1970s she served as one of the stylistic consultants for the committee of the New International Version of the Bible (NIV). She appears on the NIV's list of contributors.^[3]

In 1981 Mrs. Gren was appointed writer-in-residence at Gordon College in Wenham, MA.

From 1988 to 2001, Elisabeth could be heard on a daily radio program, Gateway to Joy, produced by the Good News Broadcasting Association of Lincoln, Nebraska. 

She almost always opened the program with the phrase, "'You are loved with an everlasting love,' – that's what the Bible says – 'and underneath are the everlasting arms.' This is your friend, Elisabeth Elliot ..."^[4]

In her later years, she and her husband stopped traveling but continued to keep in touch with the public through mail and their website.

Elisabeth Elliot died on June 15, 2015, at the age of 88.

Thanks to Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Elisabeth_Elliot

• Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot, 1958, ISBN 978-0060622138
• Through Gates of Splendor, 1957, ISBN 978-0842371520
• These Strange Ashes, ISBN 978-0800759957
• Quest for Love, ISBN 9780800723149
• The Savage My Kinsman, 1961, ISBN 978-1569550038
• Furnace of the Lord: Reflections on the Redemption of The Holy City, 1969, ISBN 978-0340105979
• Twelve Baskets of Crumbs, 1977, ISBN 9780687427024
• Let Me Be a Woman, 1977, ISBN 978-0842321624
• The Journals of Jim Elliot, 1978, ISBN 978-0800758257
• Passion and Purity: Learning to Bring Your Love Life Under God's Control, 1984, ISBN 978-0800758189
• Discipline: The Glad Surrender, ISBN 978-0800731311
• Love Has a Price Tag, ISBN 9780830736881
• The Mark of a Man, ISBN 978-0800731328
• Keep a Quiet Heart, ISBN 978-0800759902
• A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael, ISBN 978-0800730895
• Path Through Suffering: Discovering the Relationship Between God's Mercy and Our Pain, ISBN 978-0800724986
• The Path of Loneliness: Finding Your Way Through the Wilderness to God, ISBN 978-0800732066
• No Graven Image, 1966, ISBN 978-0891072355
• Secure in the Everlasting Arms, ISBN 978-0800759933
• The Music of His Promises: Listening to God with Love, Trust, and Obedience, ISBN 978-0800759919
• The Shaping of a Christian Family, ISBN 978-0800731021
• God's Guidance: A Slow and Certain Light, ISBN 978-0876808641
• Taking Flight: Wisdom for Your Journey, ISBN 978-0801011801
• Be Still My Soul, ISBN 978-0800759896

"காக்கும் கரங்கள் உண்டெனக்கு

"காக்கும் கரங்கள் உண்டெனக்கு
காத்திடுவார் கிருபையாலே............."

பாடல் உருவான கதை: 

(Crying to the wailing wall has no use. Pray to the living Savior)  

6.3.1951 அன்று நாகர்கோவிலின் மூலச்சல் கிராமத்தில் பிறந்தவர் ஜெயச்சந்திரன். 1969-ஆம் ஆண்டு ஆகஸ்டு 26-ம் நாள் நாசரேத்தின் மர்காஷியஸ் கல்லூரியின் நல்லொழுக்க வகுப்பில்,ஒழுங்கீனமாகக் கலாட்டா செய்து கொண்டிருந்த ஜெயச்சந்திரனை விஞ்ஞானப் பேராசிரியர் பி.ஞானதுரை ,தனியாக சந்தித்து இயேசுவின் தியாக அன்பைப் பகிர்ந்தார்.

 நிச்சயம் தனக்கு தண்டனை தான் கிடைக்கும் என்று எதிர்பார்த்துப் பேராசிரியரின் அறைக்குச் சென்ற ஜெயச்சந்திரனுக்கு, பேராசிரியர் இயேசுவின் அன்பை பகிர்ந்தது ஆச்சரியமாக இருந்தது. இந்தச் செயலால் அவரை மகிழ்விக்க ஆண்டவரின் விருப்பப்படி தன்னை அர்ப்பணித்து சிறு ஜெபத்தை ஏறெடுத்த ஜெயச்சந்திரனை உற்று நோக்கிய ஆவியானவர்,அவரது உள்ளத்தில் கிரியை செய்ததால் ஜெபத்தின் முடிவில் உண்மையாகவே தன் உள்ளத்தைத் திறந்து கொடுத்தார்.

 மனம் மாறிய ஜெயச்சந்திரன்,கல்லூரி விடுதிக்குப்பின் இருந்த உடைமரக்காட்டில் தனியே வேத வாசிப்பிலும்,ஜெபத்திலும்,நேரத்தைச் செலவிட ஆரம்பித்தார். நாளடைவில் அங்கே மாணவரின் ஜெப ஐக்கியம் உருவானது.

1973-ம் ஆண்டுவரை,அசெம்பிளி ஆப் காட் சபையில்,கல்லூரி ஸ்தானாபதிகள் இயக்கத்தில் இணைந்து ஊழியம் செய்தார்.பல வாலிபர் முகாம்களை வெற்றிகரமாக நடத்திய ஜெயச்சந்திரனை,1972-ம் ஆண்டு துவக்கத்தில்,முழுநேர ஊழியம் செய்ய ஆண்டவர் அழைத்தார். ஊழியத்திற்குப் பிறரை அனுப்புவதில் தீவிரம் காட்டிய ஜெயச்சந்திரன்,தான் போவதற்குத் தயங்கி நின்றார்.

இந்நிலையில்,1972-ம் ஆண்டு,ஜெயச்சந்திரன் மோட்டார் சைக்கிள் விபத்தில் சிக்கினார்.அடிப்பட்டுக் காயம்பட்ட காலை வெட்டி எடுத்துவிட டாக்டர்கள் தீர்மானம் செய்ததால் திடுக்கிட்ட ஜெயச்சந்திரன் ஆண்டவரின் அற்புத சுகம் வேண்டி,தன்னை அவர் பணிக்கு முற்றிலும் அர்ப்பணம் செய்தார்,ஜெப எண்ணையைப் பூசி, ஜெபித்து, பூரண சுகம் பெற்றார்.

தனது முழுநேர ஊழிய அர்ப்பணத்தின்படி,ஜெயச்சந்திரன் 1973-ம் ஆண்டு,பெங்களூரிலுள்ள தென் ஆசிய வேதாகமக் கல்லூரியில் சேர்ந்தார்.தென்னிந்தியத் திருச்சபைப் போதகரான அவரது தந்தை திரு ஜஸ்டஸ்ராபிக்கும்,அவரது தாய் திருமதி.சுலோச்சனாவுக்கும்,தங்கள் மகன் பெந்தெகோஸ்தே அனுபவ வழியில் செல்வது விருப்பமில்லை. எனினும்,தேவனால் ஏவப்பட்டவர்களின் உதவியுடன் வேதாகமக் கல்லூரிப் படிப்பைத் தொடர்ந்தார்.

அந்நாட்களில்,கல்லூரி விடுமுறை நாட்களைக் கழிக்க தனது சொந்த ஊரான நாகர்கோவிலுக்கு வந்திருந்தபோது 6.4.1974 அன்று,ஜெயச்சந்திரன் ஓட்டிச் சென்ற மோட்டார் சைக்கிளின் பின் சக்கர டயர் வெடித்து,எதிரே வந்துகொண்டிருந்த லாரியை நோக்கி,வண்டி அவரை இழுத்துச் சென்றது.ஆனால் கடைசி நேரத்தில் ஆண்டவரின் கிருபையால் உயிர் தப்பினார்.

உடனடியாக தன் கிராமமான மூலச்சல் சென்று,ஒரு சிறு குன்றின் மீது மண்டியிட்டு,ஆவியில் நிறைந்து,தன்னை அற்புதமாய்க் காத்த தேவனைப் போற்றி,ஜெயச்சந்திரன் நன்றி செலுத்தினார்.உள்ளம் நன்றிப் பெருக்கெடுத்தோட,அந்நிய பாஷையில் தேவனைத் துதிக்க, அன்றே, அந்நிலையிலேயே ”காக்கும் கரங்கள்” பாடலை ராகத்துடன் பெற்றுக்கொண்டார்.

படிப்பை முடித்து ஊழியத்தை துவங்கிய ஜெயச்சந்திரன் சந்தித்த கடினமான அனுபவங்கள் ஏராளாம்.

1979-ம் ஆண்டு,தனது அருமை மனைவி பிரேமாவும் முதல் குழந்தையும் மரணமடைந்த போதும்,ஆண்டவரின் கரத்தைப் பற்றிக்கொண்டே,அலைகளைக் கடந்த போதகர் ஜெயச்சந்திரன்,68 பாடல்களையும் ராகத்தையும் இயற்றி,6 ஒலிநாடாக்களையும் வெளியிட்டிருக்கிறார்.

இன்றும் தஞ்சை ”அசெம்பிளி ஆப் காட்” திருச்சபையின் மூத்த போதகராக,ஆண்டவருக்கு வல்லமை நிறைந்த ஊழியத்தைச் செய்து பாடல்களை இயற்றியுள்ளார்.

17.6.1981 அன்று மணம்புரிந்த இவரது அன்பு மனைவி டாக்டர் மனோரமாவும் (ராணி),ஒரே மகள் ஷலோமி பிரியாவும்,இவரது ஊழியத்தில் இணைந்து பாடல்களை இயற்றி,பாடி,தேவனை மகிமைப்படுத்தி வருகின்றனர்.இப்பாடல்,உலகின் பல பகுதிகளில் வாழும் தமிழ் மக்களின் உள்ளங்களில் இன்றும் நம்பிக்கையூட்டி,பெலப்படுத்தி வருகிறது.

காக்கும் கரங்கள் உண்டெனக்கு
காத்திடுவார் கிருபையாலே
அல்லேலூயா பாடிப்பாடி
அலைகளை நான் தாண்டிடுவேன்

நம்பிவா இயேசுவை நம்பிவா இயேசுவை

1. நிந்தனைகள் போராட்டம் வந்தும்
நீதியின் தேவன் தாங்கினாரே
நேசக்கொடி என் மேல் பறக்க
நேசருக்காய் ஜீவித்திடுவேன் — நம்பி

2. கன்மலைகள் பெயர்க்கும் படியாய்
கர்த்தர் உன்னைக் கரம் பிடித்தார்
காத்திருந்து பெலன் அடைந்து
கழுகு போலே எழும்பிடுவாய் — நம்பி

3. அத்திமரம் துளிர்விடாமல்
ஆட்டுமந்தை முதலற்றாலும்
கர்த்தருக்குக் காத்திருப்போர்
வெட்கப்பட்டுப் போவதில்லை — நம்பி

Apostles' Creed

---

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
1l. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

Sister Sarah Navaroji

Composer & singer Sister Sarah Navaroji - a pioneer in Tamil Christians entered into the eternal glory.

She was barely 21 when she was chosen for mission work in Ceylon as it was then known. She was to set sail from Dhanushkodi. To reach the coastal town, Sarah had to take a train from Egmore. After boarding the train, she eagerly waited for her mother to arrive (her father had passed on when she was 10) to see her off. But minutes ticked by and there was no sign of her.

The poignant occasion inspired her to compose the beautiful Tamil song while inside the train: ‘Ennai Maravaa Yesu Naathaa,' which spotlights the Lord's unfailing love even though a mother might forget her child. The year was 1960 and composer-singer Sarah Navaroji was getting into her stride.

A pioneer in Tamil Christian devotional music, she is the next big name after the composers of the late 19th century who wrote Carnatic raga-based Christhava Keerthanais. A prolific composer, Sister Sarah Navaroji as she is known, has written, set to tune, sung and recorded 356 songs over the past five decades. Several of her songs are hits and are sung by other artists as well as played in Tamil Christian churches and homes all over the globe. Her VCDs and CDs continue to sell well.

All-time favourites such as ‘Thothiram Paadiyae', ‘Thirupatham Nambi Vandaen' and ‘Unnathamanavarin' are often heard on various occasions but many may not know that these are Sarah's works - they are among her many evergreen hits.

At 73, she earnestly continues her work for God, having chosen to remain single. She commands admiration for her music, sermons and simplicity - clad in all-white, which gives her a definite aura.

In lilting Tamil akin to poetry, the substance of which is comforting and makes one focus on God, her compositions are marked by all the finer nuances of music grammar with pallavi, anupallavi and saranams in place. Hence music directors such as Sathi Victor, Kalyanam,Mangalamoorthi, Henry Daniel, Richard Vijay and Andrew Augustine found it a pleasure to score music for her many albums.

HMV, AIR artist

Sarah was an HMV artist which meant the record company took full charge of production and distribution. For years, the AIR regularly featured her Bhakti Padalgal. She was conferred a doctorate by an international institute in Rhode Island. Many of her compositions have been translated into Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam and she has travelled to the U.S., U.K., and European countries to sing and to take ‘God's Word' to eager audiences.

Solomon Asirvatham, her father, a violinist and Carnatic music teacher named his three daughters after Carnatic ragas: Lalitha, Vasantha and Navaroji and taught them music. Sarah, the youngest in the family, won the first prize in the U.N. song contest when she was a student of Bentinck Girls' High School.

After a divine vision, Sarah resigned her job with the Madras Electricity Board and began to do full time ministry. Professor R. Michael Faraday, Madras Christian College, refers to her songs as “sweet melodies that melt hearts (idhayathai urukkum iniya keethangal)” and includes her in the illustrious list of Indian women who served Christ: Pandit Rama Bhai, Amy Carmichael, Sesharatnam and Sannyasini Ponnammal.

The melody queen Hema John says that Sarah's lyrics have touched the lives of thousands of people and taken them closer to God. “There's divine anointing in her singing”, is how John puts it.

The book, ‘Lily among Thorns' in Tamil has been released. It details the life and music of Sarah Navaroji and is written by Dr R. Samuel, a former merchant navy officer and engineer, who now serves in the Zion Full Gospel Prayer Fellowship Church. For details, contact 9884713075.

Thanks: http://www.thehindu.com/books/divine-notes/article2615104.ece

The Purpose of Pentecost

( Bro.R.Stanley)

Gone are the days when the Baptism with the Holy Spirit was considered a denominational experience. The number of opponents of the Pentecostal truth is on the decline. Recent years have witnessed a number of renowned leaders and theologians of non-Charismatic persuasion changing their position as they tasted the New Wine themselves. The fastest church growth in the world is reported among the Pentecostals and Charismatics. This ought to be so because we are at the end of the last days of the Spirit’s outpouring!

However, there is a sad observation demanding serious attention. We have failed to fully understand the "purpose" of Pentecost. The circumferential benefits of the Spirit Baptism are blown up. The central thrust is sinfully neglected. The peripheral blessings have eclipsed the primary. This is true atleast in India, among a vast majority of Pentecostals.

The supreme purpose of Pentecost was stated in no uncertain terms by Christ in His last words before Ascension: "You shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be WITNESSES to Me... to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Let’s get it right. To equip us with power to witness for Christ is the supreme purpose of the Spirit’s infusion. Any other is secondary.

The Holy Spirit has come to "convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (Jn 16:8). He desires sinners to eschew sin and embrace righteousness. He warns them of the impending judgment. The Church is His mouthpiece. The believers are to articulate His message of invitation to the living waters. "The Spirit and the bride say, Come!... And let him who thirsts come" (Rev 22:17).

The greatest miracle of Pentecost was not the sound from heaven, the mighty wind, the flames or speaking in tongues. These were only a prelude. The climaxing event was the baptism of 3000 people! Pentecost plunders hell to populate Heaven!

When the 120 "Christians" received the Pentecostal power, they reaped 3000 souls. In the city of Chennai alone, there are much more than 120 "Churches" claiming Pentecostal experience. Yet the city has not witnessed even 1000 people baptized on any single day. Where does the problem lie? Have we substituted noise for voice? And rattle for revival? Pentecostal power is for public proclamation of the evangel. "Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said..." (Acts 2:14). Christians, Stand up! Speak up!

Tarrying is only "until" we are endued with power from on High. Then we should troop to all nations to preach repentance and remission of sins in His Name! (Lk 24:47-49). Why did Jesus blow the Holy Spirit on the disciples? To warm them and make them feel good? Never! But that they might go as His agents in the ministry of forgiveness! (Jn 20:22,23).

Pentecost makes cowards courageous. Watch Peter before Pentecost and after. "The boldness of Peter... uneducated and untrained!" (Acts 4:13). Let’s stir up the gift of God in us. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Tim 1:6-8). To witness with "power" against the domains of darkness! To witness with "love" to the hurting humans! To witness with a "sound mind" while succouring the sufferers!

Pentecost is anti-hoarding. It crusades against all selfishness. Its firstfruit is "love" (Gal 5:22). It opens the purses to share with the have-nots. "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need" (Acts 2:44,45; 4:34,35). That’s why even the business managers of the food distribution programme were to be men "full of the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 6:3).

The slogan of the Pentecostal believer should be, I care! He must go to the poor with good tidings. He must visit the brokenhearted with healing balm. He must proclaim liberty to the captives. He must comfort and console all who mourn. He must give them beauty for ashes and oil of joy for mourning. He must clothe them with the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness (Isa 61:1-3).

Pentecost brings renewal in worship (Acts 2:11). And worship must beget witnessing. The Spirit-baptized disciples were "praising God AND having favour with all the people" (v 47). Worshipless witness is passionless. Witnessless worship is purposeless. Witnessing in fact is an act of worship. It is proclaiming God’s praises to those in darkness (1 Pet 2:9,10).

Restoration movements are specialising in worship. Wonderful. Sermons on the rebuilding of David’s tabernacle abound. Great. But what for is this restoration and rebuilding? "SO THAT the rest of the mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles..." (Acts 15:15-17). Celebration of God’s praise should not be isolated from confession of God’s grace (Rom 15:9-11). If any of these two dimensions, vertical or horizontal, is missing, we must only say that our Pentecost has not "fully come!"

The semi-believers of the Bible argue that the days of miracles are past. But these men are ignored and God’s remnant people are restudying the Scriptures on the gifts of the Spirit. God is restoring to the Church whatever the locusts of liberals and the cankerworms of critics have eaten. Here again we should beware lest we miss the purpose of these gifts. Oftentimes God’s primary intent is sacrificed on the altar of man’s personal interests.

Jesus gave a partial list of the gifts of the Spirit in Mark 16:15-18. The context is unmistakably evangelism. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature... And these signs shall follow..." The first healing miracle after Pentecost multiplied the number of disciples to 5000. Men alone so many! (Acts 4:4). The sign gifts are primarily for attesting the gospel preaching (Mk 16:20). "So great a salvation... God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit" (Heb 2:3,4).

Gifts of the Spirit seminars which do not propel the participants to the unreached frontiers, where millions are held under the devil’s spell, have completely defeated the purpose. There are tribal areas where every other person is demon-possessed. Rally there to cast out devils. Thousands of primitive villagers are dying of diseases without any medical help. Run there to exercise the gifts of healing. Mission fields present situations which baffle the best of minds. Rush there with your "word of wisdom" and "word of knowledge." What’s the use of arms and ammunition unless we fight the enemy with them and free the people?

Dr. R. L. Brandt in his timely book, Gifts for the Marketplace, writes, "The Gifts of the Spirit are not for mere spiritual entertainment, nor for theological speculation... The Pentecostal world has generally held the view that the function of the Spirit’s gifts is to be essentially fulfilled within the four walls of the sanctuary... Yet a careful examination of the gifts in the Early Church reveals that they were more commonly used in the marketplace rather than in the meeting place." Raymond Carlson, the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God in the US, in his foreword to this book, overwhelmingly endorses the author’s viewpoint.

Note, even speaking in tongues and prophesying, given for self-edification and church-edification, have evangelistic value. Tongues are a sign to "unbelievers." Prophesying convicts the "unbeliever" (1 Cor 14:22,24,25).

One of the superb pictures of Holy Spirit revival is in Ezekiel 37. As the prophet prophesied, the Lord caused His breath to enter the dry bones. There was noise, rattling and all that. But the operation was not complete until they stood on their "feet" as an exceedingly great army! "Beautiful feet" to go shouting the Good Tidings! (Rom 10:15).

Psalm 51 is an unparalleled prayer for personal restoration. David cried, "O God... Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your generous Spirit." What for? "THEN I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You" (vv 11-13). We miss not a single Revival meeting, Renewal seminar and Restoration camp. What’s the result? How many are converted thro’ our testimony? Let’s take stock.

Pentecostal outpouring is accompanied by prophesying, dreams and visions (Acts 2:17,18). What should be the end result of all these manifestations? "And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved" (v 21). That God is first and foremost interested in saving of souls is crystal clear. God’s blessings should not stagnate in us. Rather they should flow from us (Jn 7:37,38). "I will bless you... and you shall be a blessing" (Gen 12:2).

Visions and dreams are increasingly popular today. An analysis of the visions and dreams in the Book of Acts shows that most of them were related to missionary evangelism. Peter’s vision was a call to preach to the Gentiles (Ch 10). One of Paul’s visions was to carry the gospel to Macedonia (Ch 16). In another vision God encouraged him to witness boldly amidst hostility (Ch 18). Folks testify of visions of white doves, white angels, white light and so on! Very good. But how about "white" fields ready for harvest? Visionaries must become missionaries.

When will the Pentecostal churches (in India) outdo others in missionary-going and missionary-giving? God cannot endlessly wait and watch millions perish. He so loved the world that He gave away His only Son. But we so love our sons and daughters that we forget the world!

Most of the references to "joy" in the Book of Acts are around evangelism. The disciples rejoiced when they were beaten for their testimony (5:40,41). Philip’s evangelistic campaign caused great joy in Samaria (8:8). Barnabas rejoiced when he saw conversions in Antioch (11:22,23). The Gentiles were gladdened when the apostles turned to them with the gospel (13:47,48). The disciples were filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit following persecution and expulsion of Paul and Barnabas (13:50-52). The conversion of Gentiles in Phoenicia and Samaria caused great joy to the believers (15:3). The joy in the Holy Spirit is the joy of the Harvest. Because, He is the Director of missions (13:4).

One of the grossly misapplied sayings of Jesus concerning the Spirit is Mark 13:11. "Do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." Friends, this has no reference to preaching. Much less to preaching without preparation! Observe the context: "The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But WHEN they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand..." (vv 10,11).

More and more anti-Christian forces are lifting up their ugly heads in India. Pentecost means persecution, pain, prison, and that kind. Days will reveal who true Pentecostals are! "If you are reproached for the Name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you!" (1 Pet 4:14).

There are still others who are caught up in the web of perfection theories. They keep on polishing their shoes, not to march on to the fields but to walk round and round on mosaic floors and carpets. They are afraid to soil the shoes! What a master deceiver the devil is!

True the fire of the Spirit is to burn all the chaff and purge us thoroughly. He cleans up the vessel inside and out. But what for? Not to keep in the showcase! Rather to be "useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Tim 2:21). We should not only walk like Jesus, but also work like Him. One is not complete without the other.

Following the first outpouring of the Spirit, the disciples spoke with gladness the works of God (Acts 2:11). After the second outpouring they spoke with boldness the word of God (4:31). This then is the purpose of Pentecost: TO SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD WITH GLADNESS AND BOLDNESS!