“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wildness, and rivers in the desert,” (Isaiah 43:19)
Our God is a God of new beginnings. While the sun was about to set on the British Raj, the Son of Righteousness was arising brightly in India through the labours of Bakht Singh.
The goal of evangelism in the Church, and the task of the Church is evangelism. The great commission includes the planting of New Testament Christ’s fullness, unity, wisdom and glory. God, Who is sovereign, orchestrates everything to fulfill His eternal plan and purpose. Everything that takes place, therefore, whether secular or scared, has a purpose – for history is His story.
In a previous chapter, we have seen the account of the ministry and the work of the Holy Spirit of God among the people of the city of Madras, South India during the anointed ministry of Bakht Singh in 1938 and 1940. The Lord used His servant to impact the city of Madras as never before. In 1940, during his three-months campaign from July to September, the Lord spiritually impacted the people of all denominations and groups, affecting people of every walk of life. There was great joy in the city. One could hear the singing of hymns coming out of the houses in all parts of the city as families began the habit of conducting family prayers. A Hindu gentleman was overheard saying ”It seems as if Madras has become a Christian city”.
Special follow-up Bible classes were arranged to feed the new believers and to build up those who had newly recommitted their life to Christ. Brother Flack and Brother Golsworthy took turns teaching. When the need of accommodation for this purpose arose, the Lord miraculously provided it with the use of a very large and suitable building made available to them rent- free by a Hindu landlord.
Following the Madras campaign, Bakht Singh went back to Punjab and other places in North India. It was then that a new element appeared in the situation in Madras which was to have profound repercussions. A few of the denominational leaders became alienated from the gatherings of these new believers because of jealously and suspicion, as these leaders began to feel that something was happening which was not under their control, and they were afraid. There was no need to fear because there was no spirit of rebellion or alienation in those earnest believers. But suspicious began to crystallize among these local pastors and some of the liberal, western missionaries that their position and the authority were being undermined.
Bakht Singh had spoken fearlessly about the unscriptural practices taking place among them in the Name of Christ. He spoke against the inconsistencies and hypocrisies prevalent among Christian leaders and nominal Christians, and challenged them to do all things according to the Word of God rather than on the basis of men’s traditions and their man-made constitutions.
To some, his preaching seemed to be arrogant and judgmental and that offended some of the bishops, pastors and leaders of some western missionary institutions. Moreover. they began to criticize and oppose the spontaneous gatherings for prayers, Bible study, testimonies and open-air meetings. They also spoke against those who had been ministering among the churches, through whose ministry so many of their people had come to a new knowledge of the Lord, and whose lives and homes had been wonderfully transformed.
Just as their fears were unfounded, so the actions they took were misguided. The religious leaders of the churches in Madras at that time took steps to put out the “fire” of spiritual awakening and revival which was troubling them. In November of 1940, they met together to discuss the situation. They unitedly closed the doors of all their churches to Bakht Singh’s ministry. Out of this action, a crisis arose, hardly expected and certainly never planned on the part of new believers. Those who had been so mightily blessed and transformed by the ministry fulfilled among the churches, but who were now to be deprived of any more of it by the decree of the pastors and others in power, felt the injustices of this keenly. They began to feel that history was being repeated and that the words of Christ, “they shall put you out of the synagogues,” (John 16:2) were being fulfilled.
When Bakht Singh heard about this action of the pastors in Madras, he was not overly concerned, because he never thought that the Lord would want him to return to the South for any length of time anyway. He knew that the Lord would take care of them, and felt that the believers at Madras would just have to look to the Lord to help them sort things out. He felt that his ministry was in the North of India.
Some time later, while ministering in Miraj (Maharastra, Central India) in March 1941, he was physically exhausted by the continuous travelling and ministry. One day he was having his quiet time, the Lord spoke to him from 1 Kings 17:9,” I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” The Lord, Who knew his need, was reminding him to come apart and rest for a while. A few days later he received a letter from Lady Ogle, a missionary widow of means, inviting him to Silverdale at Coonoor for a time of rest as her guest. That invitation was a confirmation from the Lord for him to go in May 1941, for an extended time of rest and waiting upon the Lord to know His will regarding his future ministry.
The route to Coonoor lay via Madras. During his eight months absence from the city since his campaign in 1940, Satan had been working extra hard to nullify what God had done during the great Madras awakening. The antagonism of the church leaders there had only succeeded in alienating the confidence and respect of hundreds of their people who keenly felt the injustice of the ban on their ministering in their churches. “Why should the people in the churches be arbitrarily deprived of something which has proved to be of unspeakable blessing of them and of which they were hungry for more?” By this time, many had quietly and individually resolved whatever their church authorities might say, they would refuse any kind of bondage, They were determined to be governed by the Word of God, as more and more of its truth was revealed to them.
Bakht Singh sent a telegram to Rajamani and Dorai Raj informing them that he would be passing through Madras on the 13th May on his way to Coonoor, in the Nilgiris, and asked them to meet him that morning at Madras Central Railway Station. The news of his coming spread like wildfire. Excited about his arrival, the brethren prayed and decided to arrange a public meeting for him on that day. They approached the authorities of St. Andrews Church of the CMS where Dorai Raj and Rajaratnam were active members, but their request was turned down. When they asked for the reason they were told, “ We, in the Indian Ministers Conference, have met and passed a resolution that never again make any place available to this Punjabi preacher.”
Hearing this, the brethren were greatly shocked and distressed. They prayed and discussed the matter as to what they should do at great length. They said they would rather obey the Lord and His Word than to be subject to man’s ordinances and traditions. They even felt like resigning their memberships from their respective churches. The important and immediate question was – where to go, as they could find no alternative meeting place. In their distress, they cried to the Lord, Who through it all, was working His plan and purpose to do a new work in Madras for the edification of His Body and for His eternal glory.
When the train pulled into Madras Central Station, Bakht Singh was pleasantly surprised to find a large crowd of people on the platform with their Bibles to meet him. He was more surprised to read the blazing words on a large banner they were holding aloft, “ They shall put you out of the synagogues:yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God Service” (John 16:2). The cheering crowd pleaded with him, saying, “ Although our pastors do not want you, we want you. Please come and give us God’s Word!” They told him that they knew of a suitable piece of land where they could erect a pandal ( a sheltered structure) to hold meetings.
They begged him to stay in Madras and conduct another campaign. However, he had no peace in his heart about this proposal. He sensed that there was danger in having such a campaign without definite guidance from the Lord. He also sensed, that some of these friends, in their new – found faith, were perhaps a little more zealous than wise, and were wanting to have these meetings just to express their defiance of those who were unhappy about the revival. It savoured of competition and rivalry somehow. Bakht Singh thus declined to halt his journey at Madras and planned to proceed to Coonoor, but due to the insistence of the saints he agreed to stop for one meeting.
The believers took Bakht Sing to the home of D.Samuel. Reverend Vedanayagham, pastor of Harvard Memorial Church, loaned his facility for the evening meeting where Bakht Singh spoke for three hours from Psalm 119. He did not mention anything about starting a new work nor did he encourage them to come out from the denominational churches, In fact, he had no intention of starting another church to meet the spiritual needs of the believers who were like sheep without a shepherd. He departed for the Nilgiris, leaving the brethren confused in heart.
What a sad turn of events! The very church pastors and elders who had once welcomed him into their pulpits where he spoke to packed audiences, now rejected and despised Bakht Singh because of his stand on the Word of God. But God works out everything to fulfill His ultimate plan, and turned this apparent trail into a glorious triumph for His eternal glory.
As the train slowly pulled out of the central station on its way to Mettupalayam with Bakht Singh and his team on board, the saints in Madras waved “good bye” with tears streaming down their cheeks,
Coonoor is a hill resort nestled among evergreen pines surrounded by the blue mountains of Nilgiris. (Nilgiri means blue mountains.) When he arrived, Lady Ogle welcomed him from the sweltering heat of the plains ( the temperature in the month of May in the plains usually rises above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.) to the comfort of her palatial home at Silverdale. This was going to be his “Mount Sinai.” Where he, along with his team members, would be waiting on God for the future ministry in India, particularly in Madras.
Bakht Singh was very impressed with the loving hospitality of Lady Ogle, which she lavished on him. One afternoon, for example, even though she had maids, she herself served him tea and made him ease. She had been praying, for him, for she knew that God’s to do a new work in India.
While in her home Bakht Singh renewed his fellowship with Brothers Flack and Golsworthy. The Lord used them greatly to help him understand some of the deeper things of God, particularly the church and body life, including the controversial practice of laying-on-of-hands. Fully convinced of its significance and importance, and at his request, Brothers Flack and Golsworthy laid their hands on Bakht Singh in Coonoor, in June, 1941. They also joined him in prayers, seeking the Lord’s will for the next course of action in Madras. They had no intension of reproducing the Honor – Oak fellowship in India. They were willing to fall in line with what the Lord was going to do through his chosen vessel, Bakht Singh. They knew from the time they first met him in 1940, that the Lord’s anointing was upon him, and they spent together in Coonoor was a real turning point in the history of the Lord’s work, both in India and abroad.
In Silverdale, Coonoor, he spent sleepless night, wrestling with the Lord to know His will to meet the needs of the newly converted and re-dedicated people of God. He also realized that the deep mysteries of God cannot be understood fully by reading or research alone, but only through revelation. “ But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1 Cor.2:10) “ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” (Eph 1 :17) “ How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery.” (Eph 3:3) While there, he spent time alone, as well as with others in prayers.
The Lord gave Bakht Singh a never-to-be-forgotten time at Coonoor. It was destined by God to revolutionize his life and ministry. For the two months of May and June, 1941, the Lord sovereignly brought a few of them together to wait upon Him. Brothers Fred Flack and Raymond Golsworthy were among them. Being new, young missionaries, they were greatly concerned that any decision they made have far – reaching repercussions. If they decided to join Bakht Singh to start a new fellowship or local church to meet the spiritual needs of the people in Madras, then all the doors of opportunities in denominational churches would be closed for them as well. But they decided to do God’s will at any cost. They also wanted to find His will concerning several matters that were upon their hearts. In particular, they wanted to know his mind on the question of effective follow-up work, and of course, what to do about the very critical situation in Madras. Regarding the latter, they could see that unless something happened and God intervened, many of the converts there would soon either be ensnared be sects holding false doctrine or else backside.
Regarding follow-up work, it was a matter of preserving the fruit of their labours. During the ten years that Bakht Singh had been serving the Lord in India, beginning in 1933, he had seen large numbers of new converts backside within a few months of conversion. From 1936 onwards, the Lord had been blessing him with wonderful revival campaigns in various parts of India. During the six years until 1941, he had seen great revivals in more than seventy centres in North India, not to mention Madras or other places in the South. He had seen people trembling and crying out for mercy to God, as they became convicted of their wretched condition before Him. He has seen them rolling on the floor in agony, and hiding under pews and benches in terror because of their sins in the sight of God. When the power of God. When the power of God was released in a meeting, it would seen as if a mighty unseen Hand was thrashing the people with a whip. They would beat upon their chest as they cried out to God for forgiveness. Many were gloriously saved and transformed in those meetings. They would often have scores or hundreds of converts, and at times even several thousands during campaigns. People still talk about those days.
However, what was bothering him was that he could not see much lasting blessing. In every place and in every congregation, people were greatly refreshed and revived during the campaign, but when he went back to visit perhaps a year later, much of the blessings had leaked away, and the new converts were hardly to be seen. Out of the thousands who responded to the gospel message during those revival campaigns in towns and cities all over North India, very few went on with the Lord. As the years went by, he became increasingly conscious of the danger of believers going astray through falling back into sin, worldliness, or into wrong doctrine due to the lack of true spiritual ‘atmosphere’ and nourishment in the churches of the carious denominations and missions where they had left them. “It was like putting the living chicks under dead hens,” he once said.
For years he had consoled himself by thinking that he, as an evangelist was responsible simply to evangelize and lead people to Christ. He reasoned that if the converts subsequently went astray of backslide, the fault was not his, but that of the local leaders and pastors. They would be the ones who would have to give an account to God for neglecting their responsibilities. Bakht Singh had always considered that his personal responsibilities. Bakht Singh had always considered that his personal responsibility ended with the revival meetings, Bible studies, and prayer-fellow ships. This had now become a concern that lay heavily on his heart, and he had to have God’s answer. He felt strongly that God’s work must be done in God’s way in order to have lasting fruit.
It was with these matters upon his heart that he, along with others, began waiting on the Lord at Coonoor. They prayed for many hours, and sometimes whole nights. They decided that they ought not to spend any more time discussing their problems, knowing that too much discussion often prevents them from finding God’s will. As soon as they gathered they would get down on their knees and pray one by one, asking God to reveal His plan for them in their service for Him in India and in particular for Madras, where scores of “babes in Christ” were now waiting, looking to them to lead them.
Bakht Singh waited on God and prayed for days, but nothing happened. He knew now, that the Lord was waiting for his human thoughts and prejudices and preconceived ideas to melt away. As Bakht Singh and his co-workers continued to wait on the Lord, they found Him beginning to speak to them. As he read through the Acts of the Apostles, the Lord began to show him that evangelists had a responsibility, not only for the conversion of sinners, but also for their subsequent spiritual growth. Those who “begot” spiritual children were obliged to accept the responsibility of “parenthood”, to see that the needs of their “babes” were properly taken care of. He fully realized for the first time that the Great Commission was not fulfilled merely with the saving of souls. He saw from Matt. 28:19,20 that the Lord Jesus had commanded His disciples to “ Go….make disciples….baptize….teach”, and that this is one inclusive command which must not be divided.
This started them earnestly searching the Scriptures. The result was for them, the startling conviction that unless they, as God’s servants, fully performed their service to the people, converts would face difficulty in growing properly. This in turn drove them urgently to prayer to know the Lord’s way and will. They did not know what the Lord had in mind for them. They only knew that it was imperative that they wait on Him, refusing to make the slightest move till the next step in His plan for them was unmistakably revealed.
As each day passed, Bakht Singh personally began to comprehend more clearly what the Lord was requiring of him. But the revelation was progressive and he was hesitant because he could see quite clearly something of what it was going to involve. Up to that point, he had ministered to all and had been received by all. His desire was to serve all. He prayed that no door would be shut to the gospel or the message that God gave him and others, such as Brothers Flack and Golsworthy who had been greatly used of the Lord in follow-up Bibles studies in different places and denominations following his campaigns. He could now see, however, that if they themselves were going to take up the responsibility of caring for the converts in Madras, then it would mean that those whom they had always thought should be responsible for this task – local pastors and church leaders were going to be very pleased with them. The result of that would almost certainly be nothing less than closed doors!
As a matter of fact, he had at that very time a stack of about 400 letters from various churches, mission, and individuals, containing pressing invitations to come and conduct revival meeting and campaigns for them. One such letter, for example, was from Burma, a very long one, with the signatures of many pastors, requesting a visit to their country to conduct campaigns for them. There were open doors for ministry all over India. He felt that these were all valuable opportunities to serve the Lord and help so many needy people that he must, on no account, do anything that would make people suspicious, and thus jeopardize these open doors for ministry. If it became known, or even rumoured that he was associated with a new movement in Madras, many of these doors would certainly close.
Bakht Singh thus found himself locked in a grim impasse with the Lord. At last, one sleepless night, he yielded. Deep in his heart, he knew what the Lord required of Him. He got up, rolled up his bedding, and went to prayer, knowing he must settle this matter once for all. He prayed,
“Lord, I am ready to do Thy will, I promise Thee now, I am prepared to pay the price and obey Thee fully. Whosoever Thou mayest demand of me, I will do it. I am willing to serve Thee anywhere, even in Madras. Thou canst use me to save one soul, or a multitude, I leave that to Thee. Even if it should cost all my friends to become enemies, and all these doors of opportunity to close, and I am no longer invited anywhere for meetings, and I am misunderstood and reviled on every side, I am ready, at any price, to do Thy will. Oh God, do Thou only give me the assurance that Thou Thyself art leading me!
As soon he had prayed this, these words suddenly came to him, “BEHOLD, I WILL DO MARVELS.”(Ex.34:10) It was as if someone was standing beside him and was saying to him, “I will do marvels; I will do marvels!” As Bakht Singh continued to wait on the Lord that night, He brought to his attention in an unmistakable way the words of Acts 26:19, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:” and 28:30,31”Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching….those things which concerned the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence.”
There were other promises also which the Lord gave him that night. From these words he could see clearly that the Lord wanted him and his co-workers firstly, to rent a house in Madras, and secondly, to be freely available at all times to those who would come desiring to know more of His great Slavation. From that day on, the Lord began to make plan more and more clear to them. During the next few days, the Lord gave him more than 70 other promises confirming His will, that they should begin a new work that should show forth His fullness and reveal His glory.
To be really sure about the Lord’s perfect will concerning the ministry, he spent twenty-one days in fasting and prayers, along with some of his co-workers, while in Coonoor. He was not sure what exactly the Lord wanted him to do in Madras, but He had guided Bakht Singh to return to Madras. At first, he had strongly resisted settling down in Madras, but the Lord insisted. In the end, Bakht Singh fell on his face and said, “Lord , I will go to Madras,” and as he did so, his heart was flooded with the joy of the lord. Bakht Singh asked the brethren who were with him whether they were willing to stand with him at any cost. They all agreed.
Immediately after knowing that it was the Lord’s will for them to return to Madras, he informed Rajamani, Dorai Raj and Rajarathnam that he was going back to Madras. He also asked them to rent a house for them.
While Bakht Singh and some of his co-workers were praying in Coonoor, the saints in Madras were also praying for the Lord’s guidance concerning their future. Some of them were insisting that Bakht Singh do something to shepherd the people who werehungering and thirsting after God. While Bakht Singh was waiting on the Lord to find God’s will for the future, Rajamani, Dorai Raj and Rajarathnam resigned their membership from their local denominational churches. They too were praying and waiting on the lord to do something new according to His Word.
The believers at Madras had felt for sometime that this was the Lord’s plan. By this time, the Lord had raised up leaders among them and they were pressing Bakht Singh to come, but he could not bring himself to think in these terms. However, the Lord Himself had convinced him, and he now knew that it was indeed His will. Would they be accused of being schismatic or making division? Would they be shut out of all the churches in Madras? Almost certainly. But they must be faithful to the Lord, to His Word, and to His people. Their primary consideration therefore was that they should not be “Disobedient to the heavenly Vision.” Fundamentally, it was not circumstances, not the fears and prejudices of men that had brought them to that. Nor was it the Christian pastors; they did not blame them. Rather, it was the rigidity of lifeless, sectarian Christianity which resisted the Word of God and its ever-renewing work that led to the crisis.
It was the message of the spiritual and heavenly nature of the church which provoked resistance and opposition leading to the crisis. While every true Christian accepts the fact of the Church as one Body, the “Body of Christ,” sectarian was the denial of that ”one new man,” in where there is “ neither Jew nor Greek…bond nor free…male nor female!” (Gal 3:28) The Lord had shown them that this was to be the basis of fellowship and function for the accomplishing of the work of God.
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews OR Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”(1 Cor. 12:13)
“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond or free: but Christ is all, and in all.” ( Col.3:11)
The Church was a living organism to be expressed and demonstrated as Bakht Singh had taught in all the churches in Madras. The “closed doors” signified not so much a rejection of men but rejection of this message; a refusal to apply the Word of God and “heavenly vision?” Or would they draw back in favour of the wider and more popular ministry? As they waited in the Lord’s presence, they knew what the answer was.
When they arrived at Mettupalayam to catch the Blue Mountain Train to Madras, Bakht Singh ,along with the brethren with him, knelt down on the platform and said, “Lord, shake Madras before we reach there,” The Lord honoured the obedience of His servant. When they reached Madras Central Station, the so-called church people came with posters, “Bakht Singh go back.” What an irony!
A few months prior to that, the Lord had greatly impacted Madras city through the faithful ministry of Bakht Singh. He was facing circumstances similar to what his Lord had faced. The very people who had shouted- “Hosanna, to the Son of him, away with him, crucify him,”(John 19:15) As the Lord Himself warned, the servant is not greater than his master. “For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” (Luke 23:31) However, many sincere believers came to welcome Bakht Singh and his co-workers, and took them to a house at 19, Karaippa Mudaliar Street in Purusalkam Madras (Chennai, South India). Even though Bakht Singh knew he would face real opposition, he returned to Madras in obedience to God’s will and call.
After arriving at the rented house, they had a season of prayer with the saints, and thus they refreshed themselves after their tedious journey from the cool Nilgiri hills to the hot plains of the city. The house was small for the team of about a dozen brothers. Local brethren, including Captain Manoharan Jey Singh- a former cricket player who committed his life during the great Madras awakening, and others did their best to help Bakht Singh and his team make their stay comfortable.
Early next morning, Bakht Singh and his team went out for an open-air procession. The news soon spread about Bakht Singh being in the city. As the procession moved, many joined and followed them to their new residence, hungering and thirsting for the Word of God. As the news spread, believers began to crowd into his small residence, requesting him to hold special campaign and enquiring about his future plans for the city. He told them that he was planning to spend a night in prayers to find out the Lord’s plan for the people to God in the city. One of the brethren located an old, dilapidated building in a Muslim cemetery on Pallavaram Hill near St.Thomas Mount for the night of corporate prayer.
About twenty brethren, together with Bakht Singh set out for the hill to attend the night of prayer. One of the participants was a young English missionary from London, England, Raymond Golsworthy, who had been working with Bakht Singh since 1940. The following is his personal recollection of Pallavaram Hill prayer.
“To the best of my memory, about twenty of us boarded the train, and headed for Pallavaram, – all of us full of joy and expectation, and all of us eager to know what the Lord would say to us that night! Throughout the short journey, we were singing heartily our gospel songs, – for this was common practice, those days, whenever groups of Christians were travelling together. We actually reached Pallavaram late in the afternoon, and expectations were running high as to what the Lord would say to us.
Now comes the special story of Pallavaram Hill. The hill was not far from the railway station, and the sun was setting when we began to climb. Soon, it was difficult to pick our way through the rocks and stones, so we lit our petromax lanterns and pressed on. Then came our big surprise! Pallavaram Hill was evidently a favourite haunt for snakes and scorpions! Every few steps, someone would call out that he had been attacked, and we began to wonder whether our choice of a place had been the right one after all! Some even suggested that we turn back and “try another day,” – and at a rather more welcoming venue! Brother Bakht Sing, however, urged us to press on, resisting, in Christ’s Name, all enemies that might oppose our purpose – whatever form they might take! By the time we reached the top of the hill, it was quite dark, but we could easily see the bright lights of Madras stretched out beneath us, while some stars were shinning on us!
I do not recall the exact sequence of events at that point, but I do know that all of us were very soon on our knees, and praying to our Living and Loving Lord for the guidance and direction we so much needed. Prayer after prayer ascended to the Throne of God. Bible-promises were claimed, and enquiry was made as to what would be the next step for us in God’s unfolding plan. I remember watching the lights of Madras gradually going out, for I confess it was hard to close my eyes! Even the lesser street – lights were later switched off, and a strange, and somewhat frightening darkness “took over.”
By then, it was getting little cold , so we tightened our shawls around our shoulders while continuing on our knees. And, strangely enough, we felt an increasing closeness to our Blessed Lord. Physical weariness seemed to disappear from us, and , again and again, we just had to burst out in our happy songs of faith. Hour after hour, the prayers and praises continued, and we just knew that we were being heard. Then came THE MOMENT I SHALL NEVER FORGET!! I confess that I again opened my eyes, and out on the Eastern horizon, a tinge of light appeared, and then, very slowly, increased. Not long after that, I saw a small crescent of the sun itself “peeping up” over the Eastern horizon – as if it had a message for us! It slowly increased in size, and soon the complete sun was lighting up the familiar Bay of Bengal, and turning it to gold! Soon we could see the outline of Madras itself; OUR MADRAS – WELCOMING THE DAWNING OF ANOTHER DAY! My thoughts wandered again, and visualized the hardly few who would be hurrying out from their little houses for their early – morning “dip” in that sunlight sea! In my own ”mind’s eye” I also visualized those sleepy, but faithful mothers and daughters already busying themselves in their little kitchens, preparing those tasty “iddlies” and “dosais” for the stirring families – not to mention that indispensable coconut chutney which must always be on hand! At the time, the sun was mounting higher and higher. And even up on our hilltop, we could hear the sounds of the morning traffic as our DEAR MADRAS was entering a NEW DAY!
It was getting slightly warmer now, and we on the hilltop could loosen our shawls from our shoulders, but still continuing on our knees. Prayer, however, was giving way to praise, and enquiries became “thanksgiving of faith”. We had “met God”, and He put something of His mind deep into ours hearts. Very soon, we would have a definite assurance as to HIS way.
It was only at that point that the thought came to me that, during that night, now passed, and particularly the early morning hours, I had viewed from that Pallavaram hilltop was something clearly symbolic. Human and artificial “lights” were being gradually extinguished, and a “Greater Light” was about to rise, – The Living CHRIST Himself! He Himself would become the very substance of a NEW “Testimony”, and only that could meet the need of the city. My mind was carried away to the word in Malachi, “Unto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings”.(Mal 4:2) Then came that lovely word in 2 Samuel: “He shall be as the Lights of the Morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds.” (2 Samuel 23:4) Then again, that exultant word of Zecharias, “Though the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on High hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78.79) Last of all, came the word in Isaiah: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isa 9:2)
It was by those verses that God interpreted to me the things that I had seen. History confirms that that, indeed, is what GOD DID not long after, and as a result, new blessing has came to all parts of India and also the surroundings countries, and touching, even, the ends of the earth. That, of course, is another story, – not for present telling. Nor perhaps will it ever be. But it is a story known in Heaven. And to God be all the glory!
The snakes, scorpions, centipedes, the other insects and creatures that tried to attack the praying saints were to remind them of the attacks and troubles they would face from the enemy when they would do the work in obedience to the will of God according to the heavenly vision.
About that experience, Bakht Singh later recalled, These scorpions and centipedes were attracted by the bright petromax lights which we had taken with us. We went on killing them as we saw them approaching. It was an unusual experience, because on the one hand we were praying the whole night and on the other hand we were killing the scorpions and the centipedes. Early in the morning we could see the sun rising on the city of Madras. Then the Lord spoke to us in a clear and open way that we would have to face such bitter opposition and persecution from people that it would be as painful and poisonous as the stings of the scorpions and centipedes. The Lord also encouraged us, saying not to be afraid of them because even though these people may try to harm us, they would not be able to succeed, for as we will also to overcome those who will persecute and oppose us. What the Lord spoke through the scorpions and centipedes, so we will also be able to overcome those who will persecute and oppose us. What the Lord spoke through the scorpions and centipedes turned out to be true as was experienced in the years that followed. So our going to prayers perseveringly proved a great help and encouragement.”
The very fact that Bakht Singh and his team had been spending a lot of time in prayers and fasting to know the perfect will of God concerning the future work clearly demonstrated that in no way died he want to do anything by “learning on his own understanding” or to please himself or anybody else. His only desire was to seek, know and do the perfect will of God at any cost. Therefore, through the night of corporate prayer, the Lord directed Bakht Sing and the team to the next step they should take. The night of prayer on Pallavaram Hill was thus a turning point in the history of the work because it was born out of the prevailing, persevering and painful prayer of His people.
Following that historic night of prayers, in the early hours of that Sunday morning, they came down from the hill. Though physically tired from the sleepless night, they were invigorated by the presence and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. With His resurrection power working mightily in their mortal bodies, they were ready to do anything to please the Lord. The brethren who were with Bakht Singh asked him questions, some of which concerned as to how the early believers worshipped the Lord. Bakht Singh replied, they would not go by the opinions or taditions of man, but they searched the Scriptures on every subject and did everything according to the Word of God. In answer to their questions he read Acts chapter 2 verses 41 & 42. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousands souls. And they continued steadfastly of bread, and in prayers.” There we have the account of what the early believers did at the birth of the New Testament Church.
Following showers and breakfast that morning, they met in a school building. As mentioned in Acts 2:41, they first had a baptismal service where sixteen believers, both men and women, we baptized in a small tank adjoining the school. After the tank was filled and before the baptism, Bakht Singh gave a message on baptism explaining its significance and importance. He also explained the importance of the laying on of hands. He was the first to enter into the tank and, with his face shining, he baptized them. Those who were baptized came out of the water rejoicing in the Lord and singing songs of praise.
Following the baptism, Bakht Singh and Brother Golsworthy laid their hands on those who were baptized, signifying their relationship with them and with the Body of Christ worldwide. Some of the saints who had already been baptized and were convicted through the Word of God also came forward for the laying on of hands. Following this, Bakht Singh gave a stirring message from the Scripture on the privilege of worshipping the Lord. He told them that, as believers, it is their spiritual birth – right to minister to the Lord.
All those present enjoyed the time of open worship when brothers and sisters poured out their hearts to the Lord through singing praises and thanksgiving and adoration.
Bakht Singh then gave a message about the Christians community and commitments-how to be built up as the “House of God” in the Lord. He challenged the people to give themselves wholeheartedly for the fulfillment of the eternal plan and purpose of God in building an eternal habitation for the Lord. They remembered the Lord by the breaking of bread. Following that, all those who attended the service enjoyed a time of fellowhip during the love feast, thus demonstrating their oneness in the Lord, regarless of caste, colour and status. In the evening they met together for the ministry of the Word in a bigger compound nearby which belonged to Dr. Pushpan Smeuel. Brother Golsworthy spoke from 2 Kings2:2. “And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.” The Lord spoke to many a heart through that message. Moses Dawn, who interpreted it into Tamil, was so challenged and inspired that he composed a song based on the same text. In the evening, many more people joined the service. Even this larger compound became too small to accommodate all those who came for the service.
The first Sunday in the city was thus spent ministering to the Lord in the light of the Word of God with the people of God. It was like and open heaven. The life and love of God flowed freely and fully among the people of God. It was a day that will never be forgotten by those present. Indeed, it was a significant day in the history of the new work which the Lord was doing in and through Bakht Singh and his co-workers. It was on that day that the Assembly we now know as Jehovah-Shammah was born through the travailing prayers and obedience of His people.
The number of people who were coming for meetings and fellowship continually increased daily. It was the repeat of Acts chapter 2:47 “….And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved”. Seeing the need of a bigger place, they began to pray that the Lord would provide them with a larger facility for this ever – growing work of God for His glory.
The following chapters describe the amazing work of God through Bakht Singh and his co-workers in Madras, Andhra Pradesh and in other parts of India and the world – truly, a 20th century apostolic revival.