Sunday Worship Service 2nd September, 2012
The lively gathering of disciples sang about life after the departure of the mortal body and the eventual entry of the soul to the new life, which is metaphorically referred to as the New Jerusalem.
The WT consisting of Ms Sonkim, Ms Lydia, Ms Mankhodim, Ms Remmawi with Mr. Thangsuanmung at the head reminded the believers from Churachandpur district of Manipur, about the undesirable state of affairs prevailing at home, which spelt out the implicit need of God to take over. The hymn, Ka gam uah Nang vai hawm in”, the resort of the helpless Christians, which happens to be the most frequent prayer song, seems to have more and more relevance even in the 20th year of foundation of the Church. ‘Love’ and ‘Affection’ are gone. The Lord is begged for forgiveness, with entreaty in music, in songs and in Mass Prayer.
The WT led the gathering in chanting, “Kagam uah Nang Vai hawm in”. Mung made the final conclusion of Mass Prayer.
The wealth in terms of love, happiness, peace of mind and of course material that comes with Life in the Spirit, is anything but the result of human effort. The believers rose with the hymn, “Ka phu lou hi”- I don’t deserve. The worship in offering collected by the ushers from South Extension area BYF, was dedicated to God by Upa T. Tuanmuanthang. In terms of Indian Rupee (INR), whose exchange rate with the US Dollar comes to 55.6 for a dollar, average collection in a worship service, excluding tithes and other collections for specific purposes, comes to 5000/- which is about US $ 90.
Drawing from the Psamist’s words, ‘I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the LORD's name for saving me’, the Pastor V. Nenglian took the pulpit for the service of Pastoral Prayer. The blessings in August, the birthdays and anniversaries in September and a host of challenges to be taken up in spirit and in body, were brought in prayer before the Almighty God. Mr. Suakzathang and his wife Ms Muanching have contributed in the work of translating, publishing and distributing the word of God. The tradition of ceremonious handing over certificates during annual conferences in Dimapur/Kohima is relaxed under special consideration. On the request of Pastor Nenglian the tokens of honor received through courier from the Bible Society of India (BSI), were handed over by Dr. Rev. Luaichinthang, who attended the Church by chance.
That was followed by dedication to the Lord of the newly born child Jabase Lalmuan s/o Jose L. Thawnkhanlian, Secretary, Baptist Missions Committee.
Dr. Jamzathang, a pioneer in the missions, happened to join the worship service. The Pastor offered him the stand for a short sharing. The self styled missionary, who was in Delhi for personal reasons, has concern for fellow Zomis since 30 years. During his official tours he seldom put up in hotels to fulfill his desire for a fellowship in Christ with Zomi officers working in cities. The missionary who hails from Vangaitang and grew up in Bungmual, basically wanted to be a pilot. He attended a public rally in Lamka public ground and there, he changed his mind. A contemporary of EBCC Delhi members like Dr. Upa B. Langkham and Upa Kaithang Thomte, Dr. David decided to become a doctor in 1970. In July 1973 the apparently foolish decision of a fellow Mizo Mr. Lalchuangliana, an elite officer in the Civil Service, to leave behind the vehicles (garis), the swanky government residential accommodation (bangla) and the fat salary, in order to devote his full time in the service of the Lord, dealt a big blow to his spiritual life. David decided to study medicine to serve God and God alone. He had been in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, been in Evangelical Union, and when he was in Dibrugarh, he spread the gospel to his fellow students and as the years went by most of his fellow MBBS students in Dibrugarh became missionaries. After marriage with Dr. Didim, David went to Tangkan, Bihar. Then he went to South India, worked for some time before being back to Bihar. The next time he returned to south India, he took charge of Vannelar Hospital as Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
Post retirement from regular service, David returned to Lamka in the year 2001. In July of the same year, he established a hospital in Gangpimual, Lamka, which is a non-denominational one. On the first day he treated four patients and earned INR 240/-. Today with a staff strength of 25 and an operation theatre the hospital earns INR 5000/- per working day. About stories of God’s guidance in his life, David said he could go on narrating for days. God’s greatest counsel to David was to find out the need of the society, identify the talent and ability in his own self, and then only enlist the support of the masses. While at the same time calling for his fellow pensioners to toe the same line, he challenged the Zomis still in service to think about the state of anarchy in Lamka and make up their minds. “Aw lung in I gel ding uh”- Come, let’s think about it, he quoted the song sung a few minutes earlier.
According to David, drug addicts and prostitutes in the contemporary Lamka, are, in relative terms, saints. He yearned for the days of the 1940s and 1950s when honesty of men was universal. Apart from the many points he made, one passionate suggestion made by him was received with wild applause; instead of out casting elopers (lovers), the Church ought to outcast absentee Government employees.
Fully endorsing the report, the encouragement and the challenge of Dr. David, Pastor Nenglian emphasized the need for a follow up.
He also highlighted the harmony of David’s message with the theme of the Church for the month of September; discipleship and the life of victory.
Victory, in the Christian context, has its essence i.e., (i) a sanctified life, (ii) a Holy life and (iii) a Christlike life.
To elucidate the topic of the life of victory, Pastor quoted Alban Douglas, who said, “the things that I most craved for when I was born again, was holiness and becoming like Christ. I went to Bible College and God said to me: do you think you are closer, by any degree, to what you crave for?”
Some are like Douglas, some have no craving. For believers, there are wars to fight even physically. It takes some courage to say, “Thy will be done”. Naturally you’d be having agendas. If you don’t, you better not start at all. A Christian zeal alone, according to the Pastor, is not going to take one anywhere. A true Christian ought to live above the worldly things. Post celebration of Gospel centenary, it’s not the best thing to try to attain a life of victory from singers or speakers. It only comes from God.
Quote: 1 John 5: 4&5
4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
The scripture says that unless one is of God, believes in the Son of God, he or she cannot overcome the world. The Indian Parliament could not function, be it with the BJP or the Congress, no transaction of business, only disruption. It’s a classic case of people who don’t believe in the Son of God.
Three undesirable human characteristics: (i) Being impressed that one is perfect; (ii) Having no inclination to make effort; and (iii) Having never achieved what you longed for.
Man has a tendency to forget or overlook the power and swing of sin in this world, which results in a host of undesirable evils which could manifest in things like sleeping with a neighbor’s wife. And when one says that it’s the will of God and things are going to be fine, a question arises whether there is a life of victory. Some people look for a standard/a benchmark, and ask for forgiveness, then sin, then ask forgiveness, then sin… a vicious circle. There are elements a Christian has to battle against.
The elements a Christian is set against, as stated in Ephesians 6:12 are being dwelled on in the Next Worship Service (probably the 16th). But a Christian needs to be battle ready first and foremost. Allowing God in one’s inner self, is the key. It’s about faith.
According to C.G. Trumbell, Faith does nothing; Faith let's God do it all. The life of victory is putting plenty of faith in God. It’s not trying to do so many things. In other words, it is trusting and not trying. Trusting in the Lord is to identify with God.
God has forbidden us to allow parts of our body to commit sin. And there is the divine assurance, as in the Romans that says that dying in and along with Him, in His death, certainly, means resurrecting with Him. Therefore a Christian has to kill what ought to be killed, reveal what ought to be revealed and be armed the way he or she ought to be armed.
The Pastor implored God to instill love for fellow Zomis among the disciples, and to help them to live a life of victory. That’s the last prayer in the Church before his return from Hyderabad, where he is scheduled to attend some official duty from 6 to 13 September.
The congregation rose to the last hymn, Tung Thangvan Gamnuam Ah Tatsa Te'n La Sa (BNL 32).
Thereafter, benediction from Upa Chinsum concluded the worship service.
By- Lianpu Tonsing
Media Team
