My Visit to India
December 2013

Bro. Andrew Phiri

 

NEW DELHI

 12th to 18th December, 2013.

I arrived in Delhi on 13th December and lodged at the home of Brother and Sister Emmanuel, a zealous couple for spiritual things. We had two days meetings at the Church of Prophetic Faith of Pastor Ariel Mahi (Left). God’s grace was with us during the meetings as we took a study into ‘the ‘Unity of Confusion, From Babylon to Babylon’. In the course of the message we looked into things that cause disunity and confusion in many fellowships – individuals moving out of their place in a quest to perform a role for egoistic reasons (Romans 12:3-5); One-self’s perception of being special than other believers or ministers (Philippians 2:3-4), and a desire for recognition in a congregation of saints which result into some men making an inner circle of disciples within a congregation (Acts 20:29-30). The desire for recognition can be so deceptive as a person begins to see a special gift or abilities in himself, and eventually becomes fanatical about dreams and certain experiences that begins to convince himself of being right. This false gift is like clouds which really give high promises of rain but eventually only brings dusty wind which distracts people’s sight from walking the right way (Proverbs 25:12-14).

When pride matures, it eventually makes a person become an absolute to himself with no openness in his heart to take correction. It’s the duty of every local church member to guard oneself against these tendencies which Satan has come to find very useful in the End time Message.

This fellowship being new will have to watch and guard and ensure that they gather for the purpose of Christ and a closer walk with God. Their zeal for the Word and prayerfulness, gives hope for a brighter future.


 

MUMBAI

18th to 25th December

 A two-hour flight from Delhi landed me in Mumbai the central business hub of India. ‘Cream of crop’ meetings took place here as sufficient time – initially 4 days but extended to 6 days – was given to teaching. Pastor Hubert D’souza (right, a humble and sincere servant of God was my host. Here again God’s grace saw us through the meetings as we took a study into The Way of the Tree of Life: The Bible opens with the account of the tree of life and how man left its way. Man rejected God’s will and desired to live by his own will. From that time to-date, no good has come out of man’s fateful decision. Then Jesus came to demonstrate and also restore that way of life – “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God” (Heb.10:7). “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work”, he said to the desciples. In Jesus we see a man who had a complete rest in God’s will, even when it was unpleasant (as in the case in Gethsemane when he prayed: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42). Today, there is so much schism and divisions in the End-time Message because carnality still reigns in the lives of believers. The great need of the church today is sincerity, humility and ability to yield and hear what the Spirit sayeth. This is especially important among ministers. On Saturday (21st Dec.) I visited the Kanheri Caves which date from the 1st Century BC to 10th Century AD. These caves were chiselled out of a massive basaltic rock and used by Buddhists as their shrine for meditation and congregational worship. It was a marvel for me to see how a rock could be so sculptured to produce such an intricate design.

 

COIMBATORE

25th to 30th December

Coimbatore is in Tamilnadu, a state in the southern part of India. This was my last leg of the trip and the most tiring one as we had to visit two far places – Trichie and Salem – by train and bus. Bro. Shadrack was the host. He has a church just near his house, and has also started interdenominational evangelistic meetings in a town centre hall. During the meetings on 29th and 30th Dec., some Hindus and Christian clergy attended who requested for prayer at the end of the teaching session. I pray that God may give them the revelation of Truth.

It was a joy to see this mission accomplished. (I had earlier seen it coming in a dream, some six months prior). Upon arrival in Delhi, I wrestled with evil spirits whose presence became so tense in the room where I was sleeping. I kept waking up to pray through the night until it was 3AM in the morning. The following day, I felt a wonderful victory in my spirit until my last day on 31stDec.

May we be humble and sincere as we wait for the promise of Christ’s coming.

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen”  (Rev.22:20-21)

ANDREW C. PHIRI
Pastor, Believers’ Assembly | voiceoftheword@live.com