Enrich Your Soul

^“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
(John 12:24,25)

Certain Greeks met Philip, the disciple of Jesus Christ and expressed their desire to meet Jesus. When Philip informed Jesus, He uttered the verse given above for a reply. Indeed, a corn of wheat abides alone until it falls into the ground and dies. But it does bring forth much fruit then after.

It is the Lord’s desire that each of us should carry out His ministry. Word of God says, “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it” (Col. 4:17). Jesus preached that, there is only one way to win the world for God; “unless I lay my life, shed my own blood and sacrifice my whole life, I can never win the world” (Mark 10:45; Jn.10:10).

Once in Darjeeling a place in North India we had conducted crusades for four days. It was a hilly region surrounded by places like Bhutan and Sikkim. People who lived there have never heard much about Jesus, yet multitudes had filled the place. People had brought and laid bedridden people to my left, while I was ministering in one of the evenings. It was a heart rending sight. During the prayer time the Lord said to me, “Tell the bedridden people to rise up and walk!” I obeyed the Lord and commanded them as He instructed. All of them rose up and walked instantly. We witnessed great miracles that night.

On the day of our return, the rector of the church had rushed to the spot and had requested us to have a look at the person in his vehicle. What I saw and heard broke my heart. I saw a sixteen-year-old girl who was epileptic. The girl’s hand was completely burnt in the fire due to an attack while cooking. She had realized the catastrophe barely after it concluded. Someone had said to them then, “Lord Jesus has come to Darjeeling, take her there, she will be healed”. Therefore, they had transported her in a cot to reach me. On seeing her miserable condition, I wept inconsolably. I made a decision then that there should be no ending to preaching the Gospel or are there any needs to be fulfilled for preaching the Gospel. The need for miracles and the need for proclaiming, Jesus Christ as the Redeemer, are never ending processes. Its perhaps due to this fact, Jesus would have said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matt.9:37,38).

Only when the corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies, the power to proclaim the gospel to the world will be manifested. The Word of God mention that he will gather his wheat into the garner (Matt.3:12). Surely, we the people of God are the grains of wheat (Isa.21:10).

God’s choice

The Lord has chosen only the foolish, the weak, the poor, the simple and the despised for his ministry (1 Cor. 1:27-29). The external appearance may be deceptive, but our creator knows the unique quality in each of us, which can be used for His ministry.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name He may give you” (John15:16).

Paul was not worthy to be called an apostle. He persecuted the church (Gal. 1:13).  Yet with meekness Paul said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (I Tim. 1:15). The Bible tells us the motive of God in selecting Paul for His ministry.

Paul was cruel and persecuted the church as the worst offender. Yet the Lord saw the faithfulness in his life (I Tim.1:12). Paul was sinful, but on the other hand he was passionately zealous for the Lord. Lord chose Paul for His ministry without casting him away as a sinner. Lord chose the unworthy.

We too might be weak, poor, and despised. But God investigates our truthfulness and zealousness for Him. Anyone can qualify to do His ministry with these qualities.

Truthfulness

The Lord expects us to be truthful to the core (Psa.51:6). What is that which sets apart a truthful person?

“Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him” (John 7:18).

An honest person is determined to exalt the One who sent him and the Lord expects the same. Even Jesus acknowledges the Father, when He says, “the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works” (Jn.14:10).

When I was residing at Vellore, in Tamil Nadu, “Nenjamey Veenaai Sorndhu Pogaadhey” (never be exhausted in vain, dear soul), was one of the songs that I have marveled at and longed to learn. When I had met with the singer and discussed about the song, to my surprise, I learnt that it was himself who had composed such an excellent melody witnessing the awful trials that the people of God are subject to. However, subsequently it was evident that, Vedhanayagam Sasthiriyaar, a man of God, was the soul creator of the song. It is important to be genuine and not mislead others to gain fame.

Zealous for God

We read that God is zealous with us in three things (James 4:5). First and foremost we should be filled with zeal for the Lord (II Kings 10:16). Secondly we should be zealous in doing good deeds (Gal.4:18). Thirdly we should show our zeal in following the Word of God (Psa.119:139).

One must always yearn to do good works filled with passion for God. Reading and meditating on the Bible will lead to virtuous acts. Through more zealousness in the church activities one can please God.

Paul showed a strong passion towards the book of law and its commandments (Acts 22:3). God included him in His ministry and in the city of Corinth, he boldly testified about Christ (Acts 18:5). One may be physically week but the Lord seeks after the truthfulness and zeal in us. We need to sincerely adopt them in us.

Therefore, no one must be scorned at. Like Paul, they should be preached to, with zeal and be provided an opportunity to hear the Good news. The scornful may emerge as fortress for Christians and the Lord shall use them as His instrument. Humbling ourselves to follow Jesus alone is the need of the hour.

“Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:30).                                                                

On July 20^th 1967 I was critically ill and was bed ridden. While four of my best friends prayed over me, I was lifted to heaven in my spirit and saw the Lord Jesus. As I looked around I could see Heaven created of precious stones like gold, rubies, jasper, Sardius, etc., Each street was bedecked with gold. And I walked through the golden path and saw the Lord Jesus seated on a golden throne. He looked at me and asked, “Would you surrender yourself completely to carry out my ministry?” Since I was battling for life in my sick bed I replied, “I cannot!”. Jesus was surprised and questioned: “Now many people prefer the ministry, but why are you in denial? I replied, “Many servants of God hardly have one meal a day, they wear tattered clothes and walk with bare foot and serve you amidst all difficulties. They need your blessings now! I am blessed as a banker, have three meals and am well dressed and I am content with it.”

The Lord smiled at me and asked “Would you be ready to do my ministry if I blessed them with your demands?” Then I placed four demands before Him: “Wherever I go to do ministry, you should go along with me; when I preach at the pulpit you should stand beside me. When I pronounce ‘touch them’, while praying, you should touch them! When I pray saying, ‘Please perform the miracles’, you should perform it! I should have a peaceful family life and there should not be anything lacking in my house. If I get an assurance of all these, I shall come forward to do your ministry”.

It so happened that Lord took a beautiful scroll and penned my demands. Then He wrote, “I Jesus Christ promise my son D.G.S. Dhinakaran that I will do the following.” He also wrote, “From this day my son has accepted my assurance and promises to carry out my ministry”. He affixed His signature and asked me to do so which I did immediately.

He continued, “My son, I look after people whom I call to serve. But regrettably some step into full time ministry parting with their job, shortly after they witness few souls being saved, little anointment and few miracles happen. I need not be anxious about anyone who does so without my sanction”.

I receive letters stating, “Sir, with a desire to serve the Lord I left a handsome job but now even the ministry has left me. Kindly intervene and convey His Will concerning me”. What ought to have been done prior has not been done. Their pride has stopped them from bidding me to find His Will. They perhaps thought, God speaks through all men of God, so why ask me for an intervention? But the Word of God says:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (I Peter 5:6)

Beloved, wait upon the Lord, get a proposal for the ministry and then serve the Lord with Godly fear. Be persistent in trust that He will fulfill His Will!  Multitude of souls for Christ will be won through you with His guidance.