75 YEARS OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
On June 15, I completed 75. We had a small thanks giving service with those in the campus and then 14th evening Christy and I decided to spend some time with the children’s home of the Gorakhpur Nurseries who gave us this land and on the 15th I had a time of fasting and prayer alone with the Lord. It was another blessed time to remember our dear Lord’s goodness and mercies in the last 75 years in spite of my weaknesses and limitations and to commit myself in a new way for the ministry that lies ahead in this Himalaya region.
JEWS DEMAND MIRACLES …. BUT WE PREACH CHRIST
Down through the ages and in all countries of the world, most of the people are interested to see signs and wonders than to listen to the preaching of the word of God. There are others who want to listen to philosophy and theology. People go in large numbers to the meetings of such miracle workers and philosophers with their sickness and their problems and worries. Some get healed while some are not healed while most of them return spiritually hungrier, because physical healing or mental education cannot satisfy the inner longing of the soul.
One young man returned after a church service and said, ‘that pastor answers questions we never ask’. King David said, ‘my soul longs for the living God’ Ps. 42. 2. Amos says this tendency will increase in the last days. “The days are coming declares the Sovereign Lord, when I will send a famine through the Land- not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” Paul says, Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified. 1. Cor. 1.22.
R. Stanley has rightly said, “John bore witness to the light of the world; but the prophets of today boast about visions. He presented Jesus as the sin bearer; but they proclaim Jesus as the problem solver; he did not perform any miracle; but they are interested in miracles……… he taught his disciples to pray; but they tell them to write to them enclosing an offering …” Perhaps one of the greatest temptations Jesus had, was from his own brothers when they outlined his promotional program, to go to the Feast of Tabernacles where large crowds gather and perform miracles publicly. Jn. 7.4-6. See how Jesus turned it down. Most of the people in the world love to be in the limelight and Christian leaders are no different.
Remember miracles and healings are promised in the context of the Great Commission. You obey his command and go and then these signs shall follow or God will do His part through you. In Acts 4.13 we read, “when they saw the courage of Peter and John … they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Their miracle was spontaneous and nobody would oppose healing a lame man; but you need courage to go as lambs among wolves and preach. Acts. 23. 11. God tells Paul, “ Take courage … you must testify in Rome”. Paul has to stand and speak before the greatest emperor of the time. In those days they did not have the Bible we have today, they did not have the commentaries or the theological books we have today. They did not have the Hundred Bible Lessons or the Thousand Sermon Outlines or the modern technologies. Many of them did not even have sufficient food to eat; but they knew how to say to the lame man, “Rise up and walk” and he walked. Where lies the problem? The Lord taught me seven lessons on this issue.
In Mk.16.20 we read, “The disciples went out and preached everywhere and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the sign that accompanied it (the preaching)”. When we preach the full gospel with the power and authority of the Holy Spirit, God will send the signs that accompany our preaching as and when and where it is needed.
Every sign is for a purpose and the purpose here is the kingdom of God. In few cases we have seen some of our new missionaries themselves were surprised how healings and miracles happened in their ministry after a short prayer and in spite of their doubts . It is not the strength of our prayer, but God’s faithfulness that performs the miracles when we walk in obedience.
Friends, the same old gospel can release power and change the world. Do not wait for an end time ministry. The Lord says the problem is, you have not groaned before me enough. Unfortunately many people are interested in a ministry without tears, I mean, without paying the price. In the book of John after almost every miracle we read the words, ‘so that they may believe’. As I have written in an earlier article, healings are not to make a lame thief into a healthy thief, or a sick murderer into a healthy murderer after prayer. God wants him to repent and become a new creation.
We should also remember all miracles are not from God. That is why He said in Mt. 7.22-23 He did not know them. When Moses turned the rod into a serpent, magicians also did the same; but Moses’ one serpent swallowed all their serpents. How do we know which is the right ministry and which is wrong? Bible says, by their fruits you shall know them and not by their gifts. Some people follow Jesus for healing, some for jobs and some for bread and so in every ministry preaching of the full gospel, repentance and new creation should be the priority and not solving problems or healing.
Today we have more Bible Schools and Seminaries than in any other period in history and millions of people come out from there with degrees all over the world. But where are the people who can say with the prophets, “Thus says the Lord”? When prophet Nathan said those words, David trembled. When Elijah shouted with this authority, fire came down from heaven. When Moses obeyed God, red sea parted. When Joshua used this authority; Jordan stopped flowing. When Peter preached with this authority, three thousand got saved and baptized. Paul preached with this authority and King Agrippa trembled. Acts. 26.27-29.
Thus both in the Bible and also in the history of the church there are thousands of such incidents when people uttered one word or one sentence they received from the Lord, the whole situation changed. Daniel read four words God wrote on the wall and the kingdom of Babylon and its king not only trembled but also collapsed the same night. Dan. 5.25-30. Jonah obeyed God and proclaimed one sentence, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown”, and one hundred and twenty thousand people including the king repented. Shall we not cry out with one voice, “Lord do it again”?
CHURCH THROUGH FIRE
One thing is sure. Persecution is not the last word for a Christian. God’s kingdom is marching on at a more rapid pace than ever before not only in India but all over the world. These days we can see it in all the surrounding areas. On one side we see the mighty Satan while on the other side is the Almighty God and his angels. When I was thinking of these problems God showed me the verse, “When the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him”. (Is. 59.19b KJV}. It is immaterial whether or not you and I live on this earth for a longer time or not; the most important thing is, do I please my Master in this short life.
This years’ annual conference will be held from Oct. 26-30. We are expecting all our missionaries and some of our supporters also to be present at that time. All who want to join us may inform us as early as possible by sending Rs. 100 as registration fees. This will include simple accommodation and food for those 5 days. Those who need hotel accommodation also can be arranged if you inform us.
Our next training for the new missionaries will start on Oct. 1. All who have already received our calling card and those who have not completed their training may come on Sept. 30. In this conference we will focus more on Mt.24.14. "... And then the end will come”.
From Oct. 3-7 we will have a training on sharing gospel to the Hindus. It is called BANDHU SEVA. Dr. Theodore Srinivasagam and team will be teaching in all the sessions. Reg. fees will be Rs. 100 per person.
Just before the annual conference from Oct. 19-25 there will be another training of the POWER MINISTRY. Servants of God from South India will be leading in all the sessions. All who want to take part in that training and move into a deeper life of the Holy Spirit may register by sending Rs.120. All these conferences and trainings are heavily subsidized by HEM so that more people may be benefited.
I was away at Bhubaneshwar the capital of Orissa for the annual conference of India Missions Association in which we are also members. The theme of the conference was “That Every Ethane (people group) May Worship The Lord”. Special focus was given on reaching the mega people, reaching the unreached and net working between missions. Leaders from 198 member missions representing about 40,000 missionaries were present.
It was a great joy and encouragement for me when I was called to the stage on the second evening to receive, the IMA award for this year which included a momento and Rs. 25,000 cash. As usual I decided not to take the money for myself and gave it to our office for the support of our missionaries. By God’s grace this is my fourth award. I had two international awards and another national award before. Friends, my greatest desire and prayer at this age of 75 is, that I may not miss the award the Lord has kept for me and to say with Paul one day, “I have fought the good fight …Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness …”
Another miracle happened on my way to Bhubaneshwar, which made me to think how God is working. Even though I made my onward booking from Banaras six weeks in advance I was on waiting list. We all felt my berth will be confirmed within few days. But to my surprise I was still on the same waiting list no.3 even till the last minute. We were surprised to see numbers 4 and 5 were confirmed and I was left out. I entered the train and asked my friend who brought me, to wait at a berth I saw there no.55; I went to the TT, the officer concerned for help. He replied, ‘all berths are full and there is no way to help you’. Then looking at me he said, ‘there is one absent, take out some money and you will have that berth’. I replied, ‘sir I am a man of God, I have never paid bribe in all these 75 years. It is sin. You give me that berth and I will pray for you’. He raised his eyes from his chart, looked at me for a minute and said, ‘All people give me money, nobody prays for me, you take that berth.’ Saying this he took my ticket and wrote on it 55 and when I came back to that berth, I was surprised to see, it was the same berth where I asked my friend to wait. Friends, I was certainly happy God helped me at that time of crisis; but it also made me to think how millions like this man who takes bribe from all possible corners has got a thirst for God.
Perhaps the main highlight of these last few months is, many villages are now coming to the Lord through the ministry of our jail evangelist Kevin. Because he was in the district jail here for about 16 months with about 1000 other prisoners, now wherever he goes he can see at least some of the bad guys there are his friends from the jail and so there is very little opposition wherever he goes. Not only that, they are greatly impressed by the great change that has taken place in his life and they together would lead others to Christ. 70 of the keen believers among them were baptized in the last few months. A special Bible teaching program for the new converts from six of those villages was held in our campus from July 26-28. Towards the end of these meetings, 9 believers were baptized. To God be the glory. He hopes to train some of the leaders in each village and start cell churches.
In spite of the oppositions on one side, God is at work also. In almost every new village our teams visit, people request them to visit again. New invitations from several new corners are coming and sometimes we find it difficult to cope up with them. People who show interest in hundreds need attention and regular teaching. Jesus said harvest is plenteous but where are the laborers. A six - member OM team working with us also is busy moving in our bus with their LCD projector and film. The greatest need of the hour is not more money or methods or materials but committed men who are willing to pay the price. God Himself will send His ravens at the right time with His provisions.
VL who has gone to Myanmar for the initial survey has brought back some exciting news. Since he himself has given his report in this news- letter I am not repeating them here. He hopes to complete his training this October and move permanently to Myanmar very soon.
Hope many of you may know, our only daughter Grace is advised to undergo a major surgery to remove her damaged lower disc. As they were making plans to leave for South India where we have better hospitals and facilities, another sad news came from Johnson’s home that his brother Babu’s father in law passed away. Babu took his wife Susamma to see father’s dead body and as they were returning in their motor cycle at night Susamma fell down from the bike and died in a short time.
Babu and wife Susamma were the only support for the their old father and mother as their youngest brother and wife also followed Johnson to the mission field. The whole incident shook the whole family and in a great moving of the Holy Spirit on the day of funeral, they all including father, mother, Babu and his teen aged son decided to close down their houses and family estate and leave for the mission field in obedience to God’s call.
They felt God was clearly speaking to them through this tragedy. Grace got admitted in an Ayurvedic hospital for 12 days and without an operation now she is much better and returned to the mission field with her in laws, traveling about 3000 kms by train and bus to that new culture in the Bhutan border. Needless to say how much all these dear ones stand in need of your prayers in these initial days of cultural shock and adjustments.
According to reports received from different mission fields in the last three months , our missionaries were able to visit 20,762 houses and contact 71,582 people. Altogether 3099 people made decisions for Christ and 112 people accepted Christ as their Saviour and took water baptism and added to our various churches. This brings a total of 355 baptisms this year.
Friends, thank you all once again for your faithful prayers. Thank you for your every encouragement, every letter and every gift. Rest assured one glorious day we shall stand together to reap if we do not faint now.
Yours because of the gospel
Dearly Beloved in the Lord,
P.M. Thomas