Bro. Bakht Singh’s Vision for Ministry
(Some points taken from Bro. Bakht Singh’s Messages in 1970’s Holy Convocations’ Family prayers)
Ø "Make sure that you have a clear spiritual experience of the risen Lord Jesus. Then you will have authority to talk about Him and pray in His Name."
-Many ministers of God called as Pastors and God Servants now-a-days don’t have this experience but have knowledge about Jesus Christ which they obtain by studying the Bible and preach to the believers according to their own understanding.
Ø “We see how God’s servants were being hindered from giving the word of God with power and boldness. In verse two of Acts 6, there is a solemn warning given to God’s servants. “... It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables”. We, servants of God are called to be His mouthpieces. We have to devote sufficient time in prayer and then give God’s word with authority, power and boldness. The enemy was trying to draw the apostles into a service, which was not meant for them. At that time they had the heavy responsibility of expounding the Word of God with power, instructing the believers, warning them, encouraging them, strengthening them and teaching them. Such ministry is necessary all the time. Then only we can see real growth in the believers in every place. But we find these days, that many God’s servants are slowly drawn away from real ministry and are occupied with other things. Gradually they cut short their time of prayer and God’s Word. The enemy can enter in through many ways. One can be drawn away into many worldly affairs by fellow-believers.”
Ø “The apostles asked the believers to find seven men full of the Holy Spirit to look after the widows (Acts 6:3). When we face any difficult situation in the church, we should pray. Then God will give the answer. The apostles could have said, “They are widows, so we must help them”. Thus they could have been drawn away from their real ministry, but as they began to pray together, God gave the answer. They were to look for seven men, full of the Holy Ghost for that job. In answer to prayer God raised up seven men. We cannot take for granted that without our prayer God would raise up such men. We have to pray as a church, “Lord, give us men full of the Holy Ghost to feed us and look after us”. That is how through prayer and oneness divine order can be brought about in our midst. “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). God did not allow the enemy to deceive the apostles, or hinder them from their ministry of giving the word of God and prayer. It was after much prayer and careful ministry of God’s Word that God raised up those men.”
Ø “Some servants of God expect God to work without giving God’s word and praying for the people. Rather than giving God’s Word, they give their own word. Because they have not prayed sufficiently, they do not have God’s message. They cannot say, “Well, we don’t have a message.” So, without a message from God they stand before the people and go on saying whatever they like. They begin with a story and then they go on to say many things condemning and rebuking them. Is that a message? They think, rebuking and condemning people and telling stories is sufficient. They will not confess their own barrenness. They spend much time in looking after their children and other worldly activities. They do not wait upon God for a long time for their message and that is why they are dry spiritually.”
-We (every person in the church together) need to pray as a Church to send us a God Servant who is full of Holy Spirit so that he could do the ministry more effectively which is acceptable to God.
Ø “When Moses wanted to be a leader himself, he failed (Acts 7:29). But when he humbled himself, God made him a ruler. Those who want authority, fail God. But when God distributes authority, you will be filled with the Spirit day by day. But you have to wait for God’s time. Then He can help you and use you.”
-Eldership in a church is not much about an Authority but more importantly a Responsibility.
Ø “Those who are proud of their country, position, family, community and wealth are very dry spiritually. That is the main cause of strife in many places.”
Ø “It is only by remaining as one family, that we can enjoy divine favour and God’s blessings. Every believer is equally precious before God. That is why the testimony of baptism is very important. Only at that time can this truth be brought to us in reality. We as God’s servants should take more time and diligently teach people about baptism and make sure that they are spiritually joined with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. When they are baptized into one body they are no more Jew or Gentile, high or low. This should be our daily experience and not for some time. But that is only possible when we give the Headship to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ø “It is by obeying God’s commands that God’s servants will receive His message.”
Ø “1 Cor. 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified”. That is the secret of knowing how much life is flowing from us. Do not go by their names or what they say, but go by the life of Christ. God’s Word says, “...Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom. 8:9). In the same way, becoming a member of some denomination is also wrong .If you become a member of a denomination, it means, you are a part of all their teachings and practices. It is an unscriptural practice. You are a member of the Lord Jesus Christ. All other names bring division. Some are called by the name of a country or a person or a doctrine. That leads to division and strife. We see how in the early church these names brought much division”
Ø “In the early Church the Gospel spread through persecution. Even so, today if the believers suffer joyfully, they not only grow spiritually, but the Gospel also will spread. Wherever there is no suffering or persecution, there is no growth. Instead there will be strife, division, parties and hatred.”
Ø “We have to give God’s word to all people. But some people want to have special ministries. They want to work only among the students of universities. Others want to work among educated people or people in high positions. Others want to work among the poor. That is how they become limited. If you think only of a special class of people and spend more time on them you will be limited in God’s sight. In God’s work we cannot make distinctions or difference. We have .to give God’s word to all people, whether they are rich or poor, high or low, educated or uneducated. Then we will find uniform growth among the believers.”
-This is the True Ministry, The Church Ministry, Paul’s Ministry, Peter’s Ministry, Timothy’s Ministry, Apostles’ ministry, Bro. Bakht Singh’s Ministry.
Ø “If you want your ministry to be effective, you have to serve all people equally with no distinction of caste, education or riches. We should not be governed by education or position. After all, they receive the same salvation. We have to be very careful and not show any partiality in the Lord’s work.”
Ø “Believers are supposed to help one another without any worldly organization, but by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
Ø Acts 13:1-3, we see how they began to pray and as they prayed, God separated Barnabas and Paul to take the Gospel to Asia and Europe. As they prayed, God’s heavenly plan was shown to them by the Holy Spirit. Unless there is a burden for prayer God cannot show us His plan.
Ø “By prayer the early Church began to grow spiritually. That is the secret of the early Church. “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness... But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 4:31; 6:4). By perseverance the early believers were able to defeat their enemies.”
Ø “The enemy’s attack on the believers is to make them cut short their prayer time. They are busy with other things and have no time for prayer. They pray but for a short while. That is why the enemy gains ground. The early Church overcame the enemy by prayer.”
Ø “In Prov. 3:5,6 we read, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths”. Learn to depend upon God for spiritual things. Do not depend upon your cleverness, wisdom or experience of any kind. We have to claim God’s strength, grace, and wisdom for every small thing. It must be a daily practice. Then you will see God’s hand upon you, and recover every loss.”
Ø “Howsoever clever, gifted, or educated we may be, we cannot trust ourselves. We make many mistakes in our lives. Many great men made great mistakes in their lives. They were carried away by fame and name. People may talk about God’s will like a parrot, but they do not know what God’s will is. Going by God’s Word we have to wait on Him and persevere to know His will.”
Ø “We need much patience to wait upon God to hear His voice.”
Ø “We have to wait till we have every evidence to prove that we are in God’s will and God’s plan. When God speaks there must be clear inward registration. We have to hear God’s voice. We should not be carried away by only one test. We need to have every evidence to know God’s will. The first great proof is the inward voice of God, which means to have a consciousness of God’s presence. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace” (Isa. 32:17). To feel God’s presence in a greater, growing way, we must be in God’s presence for a long time. We should not be governed by the first registration but we should have the registration many times. We must enjoy the inward peace, great peace, multiplying peace and heavenly peace. According to Psa. 119:165, it is great peace which creates in us a growing love and consciousness of God’s own presence in our lives. The peace of God and the presence of God go together (Psa. 16:11). If you desire to know God’s will do not go by one evidence only, but have all other evidences. Even though you may have peace for some time, you may be led in a wrong way and you may be deceived. There will be growing consciousness of God as you pray.”
Few words:
When we say ‘Bro. Bakht Singh’s Vision’ some people think that we are forgetting God’s name and glorifying Bakht Singh’s name more than Him. But when we look to Bible, Lord Jesus Christ He himself called God’s law as ‘Law of Moses’. Does it mean that Jesus is honouring Moses than God? In New Testament the author of Acts (Holy Spirit) says in Acts 2:42 ‘Apostles’ Doctrine’. He could have said ‘Jesus’ Doctrine’ or ‘God’s Doctrine’ or ‘Jehovah’s Doctrine’. Does this mean the author or Acts (Holy Spirit) is glorifying Apostles above God? Certainly not. Similarly we say ‘Bro. Bakht Singh’s Vision’ to be more specific about a genuine and perfect doctrine, since now-a-days there are number of doctrines in the name of Jesus which are not according to the Word of God, that’s all. Bro. Bakht Singh’s Vision is indeed Apostles’ Doctrine which is Jesus’ Doctrine. Those who do not know what Apostles’ Doctrine is, will never acknowledge Bro. Bakht Singh’s Vision. We need to pray for them so that their spiritual eyes are opened.We have to build our church on these four spiritual walls according to Acts 2:42:
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
1. Apostles’ doctrine
2. Fellowship
3. Breaking of Bread
4. Prayer without ceasing
Even if a single aspect of above is missing, a church is incomplete.
This is what Bro. Bakht Singh has done. He established his ministry exactly according to Word of God and obeyed God’s Word fully.
For this reason we should have Apostles’ Doctrine i.e. obey God’s Word fully (more specifically Acts of Apostles).
We must have Fellowship with one another not only on Sundays but as often as possible.
We must have Breaking of Bread as often as possible because bible says in 1 Cor 11:25 “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” So, we have Breaking of Bread on every Sunday. Those who do not have it on every Sunday are not obeying God’s Word fully in this regard.
Finally Prayer without ceasing is very important for the growth of church. We must have Personal Prayer, Family prayer, Church Prayer, Sisters Prayer and Responsible Brothers’ Prayer as Bro. Bakht Singh has done.
