“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11 - Sermon by Father.Mungamuri Devadasu

 

Message on 15-9-1982, by Father Mungamuri Devadasu

Prayer:
“O Father! Heavenly Father! Glory and honor be to Your holy Name. Father who visits the Church, we give You thanks! Lord, there are many ways in which You visit the Church—some that the Church can understand, and some it cannot; some that can be experienced, and some that cannot. All these are according to Your will. Lord Jesus! At this time You have visited the Church in this manner, and therefore we give thanks to You. Father, I pray in the name of Jesus that Your work may be done here in such a way that Your will is fulfilled in the lives of all who are present now. Amen.”

“May the light and the radiance of the divine presence shine upon you! May the perfect peace that comes from the presence of God be fulfilled in those who wait for the promise! Amen.”

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“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

From the Holy Scriptures, Psalm 16:11 reveals three things:

1.     The Way,

2.     Fullness of Joy,

3.     Eternal Pleasures.

Among these three, which is the greatest? The fullness of joy is the greatest.

If that is what we desire, does it mean the other two are unnecessary? Not at all. You may say, “Joy is one thing, and fullness of joy is another.” Do you want only joy, or do you want fullness of joy? Surely, the majority will say, “We want fullness of joy.”

If everyone here truly desires fullness of joy, then kneel down for three hours with nothing else distracting you, and earnestly wait for the true light of His presence. When you remain on your knees, then I will tell you what fullness of joy truly means.

Servants! Members of the Church! You who are rejoicing! You must long for complete joy.

Paul says, “Though my outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” But what joy can there be in the perishing of the outward man? He says that when the outward man perishes, the inward man is renewed. But did he say it is complete joy?

David said, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” But did he say, “I have it”? Did he say, “I have eternal pleasures”?

In Psalm 16:11, the very first word says, “You will show me the path of life.” The church has come this far—into the path. Those who are in the path rejoice, saying, “I am in the way of life.” Because I am in the way of life, I am in the way of salvation. Because I am in the way of salvation, I have fellowship with God. Therefore, they are satisfied with this joy.

They say: “I am saved, I am reading the Word, I am learning”—and they stop at that joy, falling short of complete joy.

They have taken baptism. They go to worship. They give offerings. Their names are on the list. For this reason, they rejoice. But why should there be still a need for complete joy?

There is a temple. That temple has a gate, and at the gate there sits a beggar. What did the worshippers say to that beggar? “We don’t have silver or gold.” But does that make those who don’t have silver and gold true devotees? O beggar, what you ask for—silver and gold—we do not have. What you lack, we do have. It is the name of Jesus.

Everyone knows many things and sends all the worshippers through this gate. They know many things — but do they know the name of Jesus? They know where to live, where their life is to be lived, yet they don’t know Jesus. The congregation is standing by the gate. They have not come inside. Are you knocking? Have you asked? Oh! How long will you keep folding your hands? He is knocking — worshippers, wouldn’t it be good if you also asked that he might come inside?

Simply asking is easy and comfortable. O congregation, how long will you keep folding your hands? You must come into the posture of asking. (Young man, aren’t you going to ask?) Do you think your asking will be refused? Without that experience, believers should at least be like those who ask, but they should not remain only in the state of asking. “Lord Jesus, heal my sickness,” they said. They were healed and went on their way. But they did not enter into Matthew 7:7, so that joy is different — complete joy is different.

1.     The Way, 2. Complete Joy, 3. Eternal Pleasures — set aside merely asking for these.
Do not remain seated at the gate. Enter into the temple, remembering the promise: “Ask, and it shall be given unto you.” Step into the Way, and as you walk in it, you will enjoy the blessings and comforts placed in God’s hand. Yet, if you stop there, you remain only in the joy of the Way.

What is the joy of the Way? It is the joy of salvation — the blessed fruit and result of being saved. But if you desire complete joy, where must you come? You must come into the Presence of God.

The congregation today is on the Way — yes, they rejoice in the blessings of salvation — but they must move further, into the Presence. For in His Presence there is fullness of joy.

Picture this: one person sits in the Presence. Another comes down from heaven. They begin to speak together about complete joy. The one on earth listens intently to the words from heaven.

Meanwhile, the man still seated on the Way says, “In our temple we heard the pastor’s teaching.” Yes, hearing the pastor’s sermon in the temple brings joy. But hearing the living voice from heaven in the inner chamber — that is complete joy.

And what is complete joy? It is when heaven and earth meet together as one.

A person who truly abides in the Presence of God becomes so lost in meditation that even the body is forgotten. This is what the Bible calls complete joy.

The Lord, through the Bible Mission, has graciously established the Fellowship of the Presence on earth — not merely for blessings or outward happiness, but to lead His people into this complete joy. Only those who enter this fellowship can taste it.

Being in the Presence is not for temporary joy — it is for fullness of joy.

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The Example of Noah

Where was Noah before the flood? He was in the Presence of God. Because he walked in that Presence, God commanded him to build the ark. Without the Presence, would Noah have even begun such a work?

Those who entered the ark were safe; those who stayed outside perished. The rain fell heavily, yet those inside the ark were untouched. To escape the danger of the storm, one had to enter the ark.

Likewise, to escape the greater trials yet to come, we must rise into the cloud of God’s Presence. Just as the rain could not harm those in the ark, nothing outside the cloud can harm those who are in it.

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The Fellowship of the Presence

Though Noah lived on earth, he experienced heaven. This is the blessedness of the true Presence-assembly. It is not a place for asking, begging, or simply praying for needs. Do not mistake a “prayer meeting” for the Presence meeting.

Noah, sitting in the ark, had no need to ask for anything — all was provided.
So it is with those who abide in God’s Presence:

·        When you are in the Presence, the Presence is in you.

·        When you remain in Him, everything you need comes to you.

 

How did the waters reach Noah inside the ark? Was there any wind in the ark? No — but the God who gives breath was there. Did Noah ask for wind? Did Jonah, trapped in the belly of the great fish, ask for air? If he had sat in anger, refusing to pray, what could he have asked for? The fish’s belly could only hold the air needed for the fish to live — not enough to sustain another man. Yet the God who knows exactly what we need gave Jonah what was necessary, even though he remained silent in his anger. Inside the fish was Jonah — but also God.

They cast him into the sea to die, but God would not let him perish. For if Jonah had died, it would have been a loss — not only to him, but to God’s own purpose. Yes, to God it would have been a loss, and so He would not allow it. Those whose death would bring loss to God — He will not let them die. Jonah, if you die, it is My loss — therefore I remain with you. The air that keeps you alive is Mine as well. Do you believe this? Jonah did not die — therefore believe, O servant!

No sickness or trial can take your life until God’s purpose is complete. Did He allow Noah to die? If Noah had perished, who would have built the ark? Who would have continued the story of creation? Servant of God, if the Lord has placed His hope in you, never let death be on your lips. Instead say: “I shall not die, but live, and proclaim the works of my God!” Say it again and again until it resounds in your spirit.

Noah in the ark did not die — he was preserved to experience the joy of salvation even on earth. Jonah, though in the depths of the fish’s belly, did not die. I too longed for death, yet I did not die. Instead, I sit and watch others seek death — but they do not find it, for God has not willed it. Jonah grew angry, but even his anger revealed the heart of a prophet: “O God, do good to them; fulfill Your word, even if it makes my thoughts seem worthless.”

O Church of Christ, the time has come for glorious works! Why withdraw only into solitude? How many promises did you make to our Ayya? Lord, when will You fulfill them? Oh, how blessed it would be if You manifest Your presence among us! Bring that presence down, O Lord. Heal the quarrels, mend the divisions in our mission, set our lives in order. Let this presence continue all our days. Even heaven grieves when it hears of our strife. Does God not know who cast me into these depths? Whatever may be done, by whomever, let no mistake be made — for God Himself is watching.

Since yours is the Bible Mission, you will have struggles that no one else has. You will face conflicts that no one else faces. You will face divisions that no one else experiences. Why is this so? (Deep inside, the thought arises: “Ah, they have found a crack to attack.”) It is because you are a Bible Mission person.

So, what is the standing of Bible Mission? It is the standing of the Bride. Your Father has determined to make you the Bride, and that is why even the enemy beside you has gone mad. Therefore, all these things are raised against you, to cast you down. People cannot understand this. But the Word says it—our Ayya (Father Devadasu) declared that conflicts would surely come.

Sam! Didn’t Ayya also say that there should be House-to-House Presence Meetings? That is why, in our fellowship, how many Presence Meetings are there? Servant! Believer! These gatherings are all spread around you to bring you down without peace. But can you obtain the likeness of the Bride?

Though living on earth, she experiences the heavenly glory. Whoever establishes the Presence of God here on earth, they will be counted in the order of the Bride.

Even inside the belly of the fish, Jonah sought the Presence. Where was he doing it? In disobedience. His disobedience was joined with distress. Disobedience and distress are close friends. On one side is distress, on the other side disobedience. Both together trap the believer and make him sit inside a fish’s belly-like trial. Jonah, in that state, lifted up his hands toward the holy temple and prayed. But that was a prayer made in disobedience, with distress. (Distress is like throwing a stone against you.)

Sorrow by itself does not bring disobedience. But when sorrow grows and grows, its fullness is joy. In the same way, the fullness of distress is disobedience. “I will not die, but I will watch your death”—isn’t that disobedience? What is the hold of this? It is the hold of one’s religious zeal. But ask yourself: is it truly God’s faith, or just our own zeal?

Do you truly understand what fullness of joy means? It is like the presence of God with Noah in the ark, the presence of God with Jonah in the belly of the fish. That is the kind of divine presence you need — seek to obtain such complete joy. No matter the circumstances, no matter what others may think, remember this: Bible Mission – God’s Ordained Mission.

1.     The fellowship of God’s presence is the eternal purpose of God.

2.     Establishing the presence of God within the Bible Mission is the eternal purpose of God.

3.     Through this fellowship of presence, the Church is given the likeness of the Bride.

These three are of utmost importance.
Without the Mission, there is no fellowship of presence. Without the fellowship of presence, there is no likeness of the Bride. If these three are missing, everything else is empty.

Those who say, “What I have, I give to you,” are the ones Satan comes near to. They may have the name of Jesus, but you — you have the presence. Because of this, you must surely overcome and escape him. He already knows he is ruined, and because of his own ruin, he desires to ruin you also. He will never let you remain well.

Therefore, to be victorious over him, you must abide in the presence of God. Sadly, today many have turned divine presence into mere ritual — principles without experience. They use what exists, but do not truly confront the enemy with it.

Consider a village: there are five fellowships of presence. In each one, people lift their voices with boldness, resisting without hesitation, declaring so loudly that one fellowship’s words can be heard clearly by another. Yet, are they truly living the reality of that presence?Alas!

The Psalmist’s cry must become our own prayer:

1.     “Do not cast me away from Your presence.”

2.     “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”

3.     “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” (Psalm 51:11–12)

One day, the Lord inspired me to write a song — “O Spirit of God, come…” That song was not born from my own thought, but from the Lord’s prompting. As I wrote, I sensed David himself giving counsel: “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” Just as David prayed, so also the Spirit gave me this prayer in song.

But notice carefully — David prayed both, “Do not cast me away from Your presence,” and “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” There is a difference.

·        To be cast away means to come under judgment.

·        To have the Spirit taken away means to be left empty, open for the enemy’s spirit to enter.

The worshiper trembles: “Lord, if You cast me away, I am ruined. If You take away Your Spirit, then everything I once overcame — the lion, the bear, even Goliath — will return against me. Evil spirits will surround and destroy me.”

So he pleads: “Father, though I deserve rejection, do not cast me away. Though I am unworthy, do not take Your Spirit from me. Instead, restore to me the joy of salvation.”

Brothers and sisters, protection may remain, but the joy of salvation can be lost. God may preserve us, yet if His presence departs, what use is protection without joy? Without the Holy Spirit, there is only emptiness, and where there is emptiness, the evil one will come.

This is why the believer cries with David:

·        Do not cast me away!

·        Do not take Your Spirit from me!

·        Restore to me the joy of salvation!

For when the Holy Spirit abides, there is presence. Where there is presence, there is joy. And where there is joy, there is victory.

O servant of the Bible Mission — by your God, by the word you possess, by the experience you have in the Bible Mission, how many have you pushed away? When God’s Spirit came on Saul, the evil spirit departed. If you are like Saul, why do you push them away again? Did you come as a teacher only to change and cast them out?

How many did you cast out at the beginning? Now they have been prepared and brought back. Sir — if you remove them, everything you removed will return. Do not cast them out — not for my sake, and not even for the sake of your kingdom. Even if it is for my master’s sake, or for the Bible Mission that was entrusted to me and exposed to the world, do not take me out of this fellowship — that day will come, he laments; therefore may God have mercy.

Sir! I long to protect the servants especially. I was not mistaken — it was not a mere wish or vain hope — but the love I have for you convinced me that when they come to God and serve, many will be brought in and the Bible Mission given to me will grow.

What has God taken away? What will He not take away? He may remove gifts and honors, but He will not remove protection or the Holy Spirit.

There was a young man. He had a lovely face that everyone admired when he was a child. After he grew up, two spots appeared on his two cheeks — it caused him great sorrow. I, who until then was considered handsome, had these blemishes come and steal the beauty of my face. It hurts; the spots won’t go away. Will happiness come? The face is still mine, but will the former beauty return? Before, the beauty wasn’t there.
O worshiper! O servant! My sorrow for you is only this much — don’t take it otherwise. My affection for you is greater than for God, but these spots may spoil your beauty. The Holy Spirit and the divine presence were not taken away from David. But his honor was lost. Even though he grieved that his beauty was gone, could he bring it back? Life was ruined. The heart was wholly fine, but the two spots ruined the radiance of his face. David sat before God and wept.

Truly — this experience of shedding tears before God from beginning to end is something every servant should have. In the end it gave him joy. He saw Solomon, rejoiced, and went on.

Absalom — for the sake of beauty — put something over his eyes and wept. For the sake of beauty, that child was not looked upon with joy. From the beautiful one’s side he cried out, “Absalom, have you come to an untimely death?” In the end he came to the anointed one, Solomon. There he rejoiced. Arriving there he said:

“Solomon! Aren’t you the cause of my pain — isn’t it you? I live because of you. I live to see your crown, your throne, your royal robes. Unable to live, unable to live — what is my life like in Guntur? I spent all my strong years in Rajahmundry; afterwards my life became a life that cannot live.”

In Rajahmundry, someone came and announced about the Bible Mission’s firmness. The one who walked steadfastly was not the Bible Mission. “Alas!” said the Bible Mission. The steadfast one belonged to Absalom — or so it seemed — yet it was Solomon’s. Did anyone imagine Solomon would become king? Did anyone imagine the Bible Mission would reach Guntur? People expected it to remain in Rajahmundry. Yes, it is Rajahmundry, but it has reached Guntur.

What is the complete joy of David the worshiper? — Being in Your presence is perfect joy. Absalom may bring mere pleasure, but Solomon is perfect joy. Behold beauty — that is joy. Look at Solomon, the steadfast one — perfect joy.

Now what is your verdict? Will you be Solomon, or will you be Absalom? Absalom was caught by his hair. His hair became entangled in the tree and he was left exposed to his enemies. Those locks — arranged in thick tresses — had their beauty bound by the green tree.
Servants, do not entrust your beauty to green trees. Do not be bound to green trees. I will say no more — keep your beauty where it belongs. The hair that bore the crown was caught in the tree, so do not become entangled in anything; do not make anything your support.

The Lord will not remove you or cast you off; He will show grace again — but still, do not make those things your foundation.

David is the mirror-image of Christ according to God’s purpose, yet his glory was taken away. Before David no one could stand; when someone implacable was brought against him he could not endure. Thus the likeness of Christ was lost. The spotless likeness belongs to Christ; He gave it to David, but David lost it.

Seeing Solomon, David rejoiced and went to God. Had he not seen Solomon, perhaps he would not have been able to come into God’s presence — Solomon was David’s completeness.
The fullness of your joy is the Lord’s likeness. You too should become like Solomon. If you receive the crown and the anointing, I long to see it — I long and ache to see it. Just as David suffered and lay on his bed, I too have suffered; even if papers print faults against me, I still hope to see the Solomons.