The Sovereign LORD reigns.
I am born in a Brahmin family (Hindu priesthood clan), that did not know Jesus Christ's everlasting Love. Obeying my parents, I had been performing worship to many idols. My parents considered Sai baba, a mortal, as God and worshipped him. In my young age I used to be a helping hand to a priest in a neighborhood temple. Whenever the priest was not available in the temple, I used to be the stand-in priest performing the priestly worship.
While I was studying Diploma in Engineering I was affected with a Neuro disease. The poverty made us not to undergo a proper diagnosis. The symptoms included a sharp pull in the left or right side of the skull and few times my vision would become blurred. Occasionally I will lose my sight for few seconds.
I graduated the Diploma in flying colors. Secured a job as a Maintenance Trainee in a Factory. The job entailed repairing high voltage circuits during break downs. Due to the neuro disease, I could not continue my job. So I decided to quit that job and become a Sales Engineer in a small distributor of Civil Engineering equipment of a reputed company. Here is where I first heard about the redemption of God through Jesus Christ.
The brother who shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ was from a Roman Catholic family, who found the redemption of Christ and led a true Christian life. At the beginning of his Gospel preaching, I used to ignore him. Some times I argued with him, to a point where he would stop short of walking out of the discussion. He would say, I will pray for you young man.
What kind of a person would he be, to pray for a youth who constantly argues with him! He continued to talk about the end times and how the prophecies in Bible are getting fulfilled. He had also given a few end times booklets.
When I look back, he was like the persistent widow, as told in the Parable of unrelenting judge. There were many issues in my family, which I could not handle by myself. In one of the arguments he said, why don't you go into a solitary room and call upon the true God? He will speak to you.
I decided to try this way. It was a reasonable request and I heeded. Just as Paul encountered in his ministry, I started praying to the "Unknown God". Few days passed by. No big change. Situations are same. No miracles. No deliverance from problems. I even thought this is another gimmick.
Days rolled by, but I still prayed in the solitary room. One night there was a force that led me to open a prayer sheet in one of the end times booklet and read it. I read the prayer. The force asked me to sign the prayer sheet. I obeyed.
With tears rolling down my cheeks, I signed it and there came a sight of relief. All burdens taken off, suddenly I felt super light. From a heavy laden yoke, I took on a much lighter yoke.
I did not share this with anyone, Even to the elder brother who shared the Gospel. I was afraid that he would convert me into a Christian. I lived with this secret lightness for a few months. In one of the discussions with the brother, by now the arguments have turned into discussions, I told him that I have signed the prayer sheet. He immediately Praised the LORD and said that the LORD shall lead me henceforth.
I was surprised. I thought he would force me to embrace his religion. He gifted me a full bible. I craved to study the bible. Lord made ways for this. I finished reading bible in few months time. Daily prayer and bible reading became my routine. However I had not yet obeyed to be baptized.
I prayed for the holy spirit anointing with the Pentecost day incident and got the holy spirit baptism. Prophesying, tongues and deciphering tongues are the gifts I got from the LORD. Like Cornelius, I got the Holy Spirit Anointing before my water baptism.
Lord was gracious on me and he made ways for me to attend Sunday service somewhere. In one of the Sunday morning worship in New Life Assembly of God, Saidapet, Chennai, the LORD led me to get baptized in water. I obeyed.
I attended the baptism class and was standing in the queue waiting for my turn to be baptized. The brother who shared gospel with me had come to the baptism tank to witness someone else baptism. He was surprised to see me in the queue. He asked me where my change clothes are. I said, I obeyed the LORD today in the worship and committed for water baptism.
He immediately went to his residence and brought me his clothes for baptism. I changed my clothes, got into his clothes, got baptized and changed back to my clothes. LORD provided me there!
I lived a secret life as far as my family is concerned. I used to get out of house on some pretext and attend worship services. I grew in Spirit and Lord prompted me to declare my faith to my family. Slowly I disclosed my faith in the LORD.
None of my family members I had born in have accepted the LORD till date. They witnessed many great things LORD did. However they continue to live in the darkness.
In 2005 LORD asked me to marry a girl and I obeyed. In 2011 the disappeared neuro disorder resurfaced. This time around I wad financially well off, as the LORD has exalted me and made me professionally sound. We went for diagnosis with prayers. The MRI scans showed no problems in my brain and I was cleared off the neuro disorder. We claimed victory over the sickness and since then, I am living a life free of that sickness.
LORD first called me as Abraham. He also gave other names later. Wherever LORD took me, he had anointed me with success. We lived in Pune, which was much far away from our birth place. Due to various reasons, unknown language being one of them, I did not attend any church services. “Don’t stop gathering as a congregation” never put a guilt in me. Wherever I was, I had been led by the Spirit of God and accomplished LORD’s will. People working for me in office did not know my faith. Some came to know the faith somehow, and some approached for prayers. As led by the Spirit of God, I have shared the Gospel to few of my friends. No big changes in them. I was convinced by the words of Jesus, Sower and the reaper are often different!
LORD has blessed me with all riches. However we had no children. Many a times we had cried in the LORD’s presence for a child. Holy Spirit would comfort me stating that “God is able to give me a child, Believe in him”
In the 8th of marriage in 2012 LORD gave us a girl Child. LORD also made all arrangements for living with the new born bundle of joy. We relocated to Bangalore for a brief time of two years. Again LORD made us to go to Pune, with a job change. This time around only 8 months stay in Pune.
I was diagnosed of a severe ear infection, which had persisted in me since past 15+ years. In the initial year when this infection first surfaced, LORD had told that my Glory will be revealed through this infection.
Doctors said that I had to undergo a life saving surgery. The chances of success depended on the complexity. LORD’s hand was on me and I agreed for the surgeon to perform the surgery. In HIS amazing grace He has guarded me through these infections. A surgery scheduled for 2 hours went on for 4 hours. LORD’s healing started there. The surgeon was surprised as to how I lived with that infection so long. I realised how the LORD had fenced around me and has carried in his comforting arms all these years!
Post surgery the LORD changed the situation at workplace unfavorable, the situation made me to quit a high paying job. We returned to Bangalore to live on our meager savings. LORD tapped into my desire towards Tamil language. He made me to write the four gospels as a pure metreme poems (venpaa). The project was started by Holy Spirit in Oct 2015 and completed in August 2016. Printed the book and published it online. (http://yesuvenpa.blogspot.com) However I had no heart to sell books and earn money. Wherever I went, I distributed the book free of Cost. In 2015, due to some disorder in the brain, the vision started to become affected. Then the doctors were unable to pinpoint exactly what the disorder was.
In September 2016 LORD called me for Ministry. I said, even now, I am doing your job. What difference? This time Holy Spirit spoke very clearly saying “How many times will you sway and not commit yourself?”
I replied, LORD, “I commit myself. You are my first priority and I obey to your calling”
From the day I left my job and till date, LORD had provided for our food, clothing and place to stay. Money for my daughter’s studies was also provided for. I do not take offerings from the people and live in that. All these days the providence had been from savings LORD had commanded me to do while I was working. A few offerings came through, which I either gifted back to the offering box, or used them up for other LORD’s ministry.
On Sep 24, 2016 LORD commanded me to start a WhatsApp and Facebook ministry and named it “Mount of Olives - Christ-like Living”. I obeyed and started the ministry.
In 2019 the Lord gave me clarity on what my ministry calling is. He gave the ministry of teaching the scriptures. I asked should not I qualify myself for that ministry call, and from September 2020, the Lord graced me to study online at a Theological college in Sri Lanka. I have completed two years and I am currently studying in third year. (as on June 2024)
In 2020, due to the corona virus. Church Services were affected worldwide. I was also affected by Corona. It was only at this time that doctors discovered a tumor beneath my brain. That tumor is the cause of vision issues. Doctors said the tumor was in an inoperable location. They said they can do radiation therapy called SBRT.
I spent all the money I had saved till then to be treated. Complete cure is not available yet. However, the Lord is gracious enough to make continue my ministry regardless of all these sickness. He gave me a vision to start a free Bible classes. Accordingly, I am conducting free Bible classes under the aegis of the ministry named, Mount of Olives Christian Theological Learning Center.
I have a conviction that wherever LORD makes me to stand, I am commissioned to Lift up his Name and bring Glory to HIS mighty name. I give Glory to Jehovah, the father God alone. I greet you all in the name of our redeemer Jesus Christ and may the fellowship of Holy Spirit with you, I pray. I end my testimony with this small prayer. Amen
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