(A condensed message of Pas. Mohandas on
April 11, 2010 at Geddalahalli, Bangalore)
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in
the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for
situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the
north, the city of the great King” – Psa.48:1,2.
By God’s grace three brothers and six sisters could
consecrate their life for the full time ministry from different locals of
Bangalore Centre and they have been selected by saints of God during the
Chennai International Convention. Now we, as servants of God, co-believers,
parents, friends and relatives, have been gathered in order to see the
blessings of God showered upon Zion and praise Him on their behalf.
Jesus said, “If any man serve me, let him follow me;
and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will
my Father honour” (Jn.12:26). We have heard their testimonies in which
they clearly told that they received the assurance and calling from God in
different ways and they themselves surrendered their life in order to suffer with
Christ.
From the word of God we can see how a person should
consecrate their life for the ministry. “If any man come to me, and
hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children and brethren, and
sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple”
(Lk.14:26,27,33). God has chosen them even before the foundation of the
world and separated from the mother’s womb for this ministry. However,
this truth all cannot understand. Only “they to whom it is given” to make
themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake
(Mat.19:11,12). “For my sake and gospel’s sake” (Mk.10:29).
“For the kingdom of God’s sake” (Lk.18:29). Peter said, “Lo, we have left
all, and followed thee” (Lk.18:28).
Dear parents, friends and relatives of these newly
consecrated servants of God, now they have been given to God as offerings and
once you offered them in the God’s offering box, you have no right to look at
it or take back and keep it at home, then it will be a curse unto you and your
family.
For this ministry they had received a birth in Zion
(Psa.87:5). By seeing the attitude and culture of a person, we can
identify whether he is a Keralite, Tamil, Kannada, American, African, Chinese,
etc. It is true, admission in schools are more compare to Colleges, but
the life of a college student is excellent than of the school children.
Like that there are only few take birth in Zion, but their life on this earth
is unique. The chief captain said unto Paul, “with a great sum
obtained I this freedom or Roman Citizenship (Act.22:28), whereas Paul was a
born-Roman.
His servants shall be seen on the Mount Zion alongwith
Father (Rev.14:1). Zion is the joy of the whole earth. The purpose
of taking them as apostles can we see in Mk.3:14,15. Jesus ordained
twelve that they should be with him then go and preach, heal the sick and cast
out demons. Servants of God should be seen with Him and it should be
practiced even on this earth. It is not the desire of God that such
people should be seen with their wife, children and dear ones and live for
them.
There is an order for the ministry. Till Christ
there was the order of Aaron and Christ came and constituted a better order in
the order of Melchisedec about whom we read, no father, no mother, no descent,
no beginning, no end (Heb.7:3). In the order of Aaron there was father,
mother, wife, children and family, but it was told them that they should not
love anyone more than God, which is the standard given for the New Testament
believers (Mat.10:37,38). Therefore, servants of God who go in search of
their consecrated parents and relatives, they are unworthy to be called the
servants of God.
God calls people who have received birth in Zion in
this order. When God called Jeremiah saying, Before I formed thee in the
belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified
thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations (Jer.1:5), he said I
cannot speak because I am a child. In order to strengthen him God said
when you were conceived in the mother’s womb I knew thee. Psalmist says
when we are born, born in iniquity and in sin did our mother concerive
(Psa.51:5), but God knew him and separated for His ministry. While in the
womb of his mother, John the Baptist was anointed by the Holy Spirit (Lk.1:47).
About Jesus birth we read in the same chapter verse 35, “The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore
also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son
of God”. But in order to do the ministry for a certain time they had to
live with their parents. Jesus lived with his parent till His 30 years of
age. St. Paul even after salvation stayed with the apostles for a certain
period and then he was sent for the ministry. Those who are called to
Zion shall have the sign of Zion, but in the case of Paul he was a
murderer. Can a murderer be chosen for the ministry? This is our
look, but God’s view is different. What for he became a murderer?
Is it for money, or any personal gain? No because of his zeal about his
religion and unknowingly he became a murderer. His zeal was the sign of
Zion.
Those who are born in Zion, God called and separated
them so that they may grow in Zion. But why they should born in Zion and
come for the ministry? There is a left over ministry. In order to
fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ, for the body’s sake,
which is the church, it is necessary that a group of people should born in Zion
and come out for the ministry (Col.1:24). St. Paul says I am minister
unto gentiles. It is the will of God that the gentiles should be united
with the body of Christ. Who are these gentiles? According to
Eph.1:12, they are the people who knew no God and away from God or sinners.
Sinners have no inheritance with the saints of God, but God wants that all
should be partakers of His inheritance. Even the fool who says, there is
no God, also should be brought to this salvation. Jesus came to this
world in order to save the sinners. This is the ministry. To teach
the fool or unlearnt, dump, deaf and blind, it is not very easy. Christ’s
mind and love of God is needed for this ministry. That can be seen only
in the life of people who are born in Zion.
However, many people think that the life of Zion is a
captive life. There is no room for independent spirit. It is the
will of God that “let every soul be subject to the governing authorities”,
because the authorities have been appointed by God (Rom.13:1,2;
Eph.4:11). When this understanding is lost, life of Zion is a
captive. Israelites were taken captive to Babylon where they hanged their
harps and instruments upon the willows and lamented. They were asked to
sang a song of Zion, but they said, how can we sing the LORD’s song in a strange
land? (Psa.137:1-4). The reason we can see when we read 2 Chro.36:13
onwards. When we fail to live according to the law of the land, we will
be seen as captive. Many such people have gone away and many will be
going hereafter also, but don’t think that Zion has washed away. Zion is
and it will be there on this earth till His coming. Because of the work
of Zion, we are now here. God bless us from Zion. He send His word
from Zion. Not only that He is shining from Zion (Psa.50:2). Zion
still abides.
Make sure the place in which you have born. If
you have born in Zion, don’t desire to live in Jerusalem or in Australia or
America. Wherever you go, He will bring back to the place where you have
born. Knowing the will of God, if we fulfill it, it is a great
blessing.
However, those who have come out for the ministry
should know how to be seen in the ministry and in which ministry God is well
pleased. There was a poor man begging all the day but while coming back,
he didn’t have a place to lay his head. Seeing the sate of this poor man,
there was a noble man who provided a small hut in his land. Every day he
used to enquire him and this poor man was also praising him for his noble work
of help. But for few days this rich man could not see the beggar outside
the hut. He went inside and found he is sick. Immediately he called
a doctor and doctor also visited him and checked and gave some prescription to
have some medicine. The doctor also did it freely. Both have done a
good work. There was a preacher who used to go through that way very
often and having been failed to see this beggar, the preacher went inside the
hut and found this man is sick. He made a good prayer and said God will
heal you and he blessed and went. He also did a good work, but the sick
man is in the place lying without getting any food, treatment or help.
But there was a coolie nearby that hut and one day he thought to visit this
poor man. He went inside and saw that the hut is having a hole and sun
races are coming in directly to his face, and went into the kitchen and saw
that for a week nothing is cooked there and also saw that his dress is not
changed and foul smell is coming out. Without telling anything he went
out and after a few hours, he came back, and in his hand there was few coconut
leaves, food in a plate and some clean clothes. He first helped the sick
man to sit and fed with the food and removed the clothes, washed and dressed
him with fresh clothes and covered the holes with coconut leaves. After
few days, the poor man came out and started to walk. From this story, you
can imagine who did the true service to the poor man? Of course without
controversy the coolie did the true ministry. People who have come out
for the ministry should do the ministry in this manner.
They are redeemed from among men and also from the
earth (Rev.14:4-5). They don’t have any fellowship with world or people
of the world. Their desire is to complete the sufferings of Christ for
the sake of His body, which is the church. To do the will of God is their
aim.
In the eternity, His servants shall see His face
always (Rev.22:5). Praise the Lord.
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