Bro. Bakht Singh's Testimony - Part 1 — Bakht Singh

Our loving Heavenly Father, God of grace, mercy and peace, our mighty and great God, Father of all mercies, the giver of all good gifts, our mighty and great God, our never failing and never changing God, God of eternity, God of perfection, God of holiness, the covenant keeping God.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our highly exalted Savior, we commend thy feet. We thank thee for the happy day when our night was turned into day. We thank thee for thy mighty hand by which we have been pulled out of the mighty clay.

We thank thee for the joy unspeakable, full of glory given to many of us after forgiving our sins. We thank thee for all thy promises which have been fulfilled in our lives since the day we learned to put our trust in thee.

Thanksgiving for Salvation and God’s Faithfulness

We magnify thee for all thy goodness, love and favor which we have been receiving day by day through our oneness and union with the Lord Jesus Christ in death, burial and resurrection. We thank thee for that peace like a river now which we have in our hearts because our sins are forgiven and washed away.

We thank thee for that day when we heard these loving words, my son, my daughter, thy sins be forgiven thee. And we pray for many among us who have not heard these words yet. We humbly pray these loving words be also brought in their ears from the heavenly throne.

We thank thee for the power of resurrection which we have received and are receiving every day to overcome every trial and temptation and hardship because of thy faithfulness. And we thank thee for thy pure everlasting love which we taste daily through those who are redeemed by thee and washed by thee and saved by thy grace.

And we thank thee, loving Father, all among us through love and prayer we have been strengthened all these years. And we thank thee for thy heavenly plan by which many in many parts of the world are burdened of thee to pray for us according to our need every day.

And thus we thank thee for neighbouring us together this evening as fellow believers, as co-workers. Unite our hearts to adore thy and magnify thee for all thy abundant grace and sure mercies which we have received in the past many years.

We magnify thee, loving Father, for the means thou art using to seek and to find a condemned real sinner. Thank thee also, we now are calling one here, one there, for thy service to become thy mouthpiece and thy witness.

Now we pray by our gathering here this evening hour, thy heart of love bubbling over, be poured into many hearts. And do you hear thy loving voice of still being forgiven? Do not their joy may recover it.

Do you hear thy voice for thy service? Do you hear it? May hear it? Do you hear thy voice and are following thee in extra nurturing for thy service? Do you are somewhat discouraged and downhearted this year by thee?

And that eternal we are in many hearts and many lives this evening hour. Thank thee for many of thy dear servants sent to us from many parts of India today to encourage us by their love and their presence and their prayers.

We magnify thee for the loving greetings sent to us from many parts of the world for this day assuring us of their prayer on our behalf. Now we pray to make our time fully edified. The whole pandal be filled with thy glory.

All who have come will come be welcomed by thee. By your faith we burn the power of darkness. And by your faith we give them the pressure of blood. And we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our highly exalted savior.

Responsibly Psalm 145. If you have not got a Bible, look to your neighbor's Bible and read your portion. Psalm 145. We are going to sing a part of the same psalm. While we stand to sing it, now will you kindly come forward.

And occupy all the vacant space. Together. We thank thee once again for thy eternal purpose for which we are constrained to have this thanksgiving gathering. We pray now that thou may bring all of us into thy full possession.

To make our time fully edifying, glorifying. The Lord Jesus Christ our loving savior be highly exalted and magnified in our midst, in our hearts. The Lord Jesus Christ our loving savior be highly exalted and magnified in our midst, in our hearts.

His grace, his love and compassion be experienced by many among us in a manner as never before. Those who have not heard his voice may hear it. Those who have heard it may follow him all the way. Those who have not heard it may follow him all the way.

Now we pray oh God make our time fully glorifying. Help us all to feel thy presence, hear thy voice. Draw away every eye from man. And let them be fixed upon thee. And we pray with thanksgiving in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our savior.

And we pray with thanksgiving in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our savior. After the gathering we shall be having God Ring Love Feast. Which all of you are invited. You are welcome to stay behind after the meet over.

You don't be hurry to go away. Stay behind and take your share. God Ring on Wednesday afternoon 5 o 'clock we have here two marriages. God Ring on Wednesday afternoon 5 o 'clock we have here two marriages.

God Ring on Wednesday afternoon 5 o 'clock we have here two marriages. You are also invited to come for those. Psalm 116 and verse 12. Psalm 116 and verse 12. What shall I render unto the Lord for his benefits toward me?

Verse 14. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. Verse 16. O Lord, truly I am thy servant. I am thy servant and thus shall my handmaid now hath loosed my bonds. Verse 17.

I offer to thee that sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the name of the Lord. Verse 18. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. Verse 19. In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem, pray unto the Lord.

Verse 12. What shall I render unto thee, unto the Lord, for his benefits toward me? Verse 21. Exactly one feel this evening. His benefits are so many. His love is so great. His grace is so abundant. His mercy law sure has surpassed.

And we can never find enough time to thank him sufficiently adequately for what he can give to us as we go to him. And because our hearts are full of praise and worship and thanksgiving, we have been constrained to arrange this gathering.

All of us join together and thank him for his grace and love and mercy which he has been showing upon us in abundance in the past year. Now Swami says in the same psalm, verse 14, I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

Then verse 17. I offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the name of the Lord. Again he repeats that in verse 17. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.

Pray unto the Lord. I am sure all who are here who have had personal experience of living Lord Jesus Christ, have the very same desire as expressed in the verses in Psalm 116. And I am sure there are many here with the same testimony and same longing and same desire to worship him, to thank him for all his benefits which he has been showing upon them from the day they heard his voice.

The Beginning of Bakht Singh’s Search for God

It was about 40 years ago when God first met me and helped me to understand his great love toward even me. Not to be more correct, it was 11th of August, 1928. But because of the special meeting at other places, we could not gather like this earlier.

It was more than a month ago when the Lord first began to speak to me to have a satyagathing and we could thank him for all his benefits. It was about the earliest time we could have satyagathing. And we thank God for all of you who are here, from here and also from other parts of the country.

It is very, very hard to express ourselves at a time like this. But in broken words, we only want to just say unto the Lord how good he is unto all of us. And we pray that all of you may hear his voice and count your need this evening.

So whatever is to be said is being said with that object. God of grace, God of love may become real to you. There was a time when I had been saying in my following, there is no God. Even though in earlier days I had a great hunger and thirst for living God.

I have spent many hours and many days here and there in search for God. But during my holidays in London, gradually, I lost faith in God. It happened to many young people who go away from home to foreign countries.

In their folly of their youth, they say many things which we do not know what they are saying. God is so gracious and is so merciful. Our lovingly he goes on seeking us till we come to him. Now I can see how God was after me, unknown to me for many years.

But he uses many many simple means to become real to us. I remember very clearly in the month of February 1928, I went to my college in London called the City and Guilds Engineering College. It was in a locality called South Kensington.

Now going by my ordinary habit, every morning I would first of all look at the notice board and see any special notice for the day. Because many of the college activities were announced every morning on the college notice board.

So on the left side of that entrance, we had a very large notice board. Displaying different notices for the meetings and activities in the college. As I entered that morning in the month of February 1928 in the college, one very large notice pasted upon the notice board drew my attention.

It was a very big question mark. At the bottom of these words, why not spend your summer vacation in Canada this year? At that very period, I was thinking in my mind, where to go during my summer vacation.

Most of my college friends were planning at that time to go to Europe. Some were thinking of going to France or Italy or Germany or Switzerland, other part of Europe for the holiday. We had about three months holiday.

So I was thinking and making inquiry for different people, where I should go during those three months. And that question mark drew my attention. And these words, why not spend your summer vacation in Canada, suddenly drew my attention.

See how God uses these simple things unknown to us to do great things. Many people want to see God doing great things. Right from that experience, you will see God much more small thing than great thing.

Many of us may have admired the flower like a rose, but never attributed appreciation for ordinary piece of grass. But to my mind, even a tiny blade of grass is far more beautiful than anything man can make.

You see small thing, you see great thing. And you find later on back experience, how God is speaking to you, very very simple way, unknown to you. At that time, I only think of my pleasure and my enjoyment.

But God was thinking of my everlasting welfare. I never knew it. But God was so concerned about me. We don't know it. However mighty God is equally concerned about our spiritual everlasting welfare. We don't think that my case was somewhat exceptional case.

You find later on, God has the very same love for you as for anybody else. How to obey him and follow him, then you know back experience. So that question mark welcoming me again and again. Why not spend your summer vacation in Canada?

Why not a letter of inquiry to the secretary of that notice? Because they had not given any detail in the notice. When a boy came back to me after a week or so, a party of about 25 or more university students will be going to Canada for a harvesting.

You know how there is a very big harvest in Canada in a very short time. They had to gather it before the snowfall. That's why those days they had to get many labourers from different parts of Europe.

But now they have got modern machinery for harvesting. They don't require so many labourers. They were paying very high wages to labourers who would go there for a short period. So I made further inquiry.

And they told me, they had planned to work on the farm, earning money for six weeks, and then travel between cities for six weeks. So that scheme appealed to me. And I could earn money and spend some time in travelling and sightseeing.

At the same time, earn some money. That's why I gave my name to go with the party. So I wrote to my father also. I don't require any extra money for that period. I will be able to earn enough money for my need in those days.

So my father agreed for my going to Canada at that time. But before we left England, I got a letter from the secretary of the party. We won't advise you to go to Canada at this time. Because Canadians may not give you the same good treatment which you have been having in England.

In those days, in the west coast of Canada, they were not receiving Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Asiatics in big hotels. They were not inviting Indians from India, China, and other countries. But these days are different.

So I again wrote back. I know how to travel. I will go on my own. Somehow that desire was so strong, I must go to Canada. Without knowing why that desire was becoming stronger. But now I can see again God's hand in my life in that way.

God has a way and a plan to bring us His plan. He is so gracious, so sovereign. Like a skillful hand, He goes on moving us in that place. So the secretary thought by saying this word, he may discourage me.

And I will stop going there. Brother, that remark made me still more relaxed. So he again wrote back saying, You are bent upon going, you can go. But don't blame us if anybody hurts your feelings and refuses accommodation in any big hotel.

So again that letter taught me one lesson. Let me show them that I may in no way be inferior to anybody. Let me show them that I may in no way be inferior to anybody. See, God knew the hunger of my heart which I had many years ago.

During my school days, I had spent many hours in lonely places. Oh God, who are you? How to find me? Now I had forgotten that hunger and thirst during my college days. But God never forgets. He remembers everything.

We forget even the thing of yesterday. Our memories are so weak. But God remembered my early days longing. And like that, I promise also. In the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29, those who seek me with all their heart, they shall find me.

Canada, the Living Christ, and the Gift of the Bible

Thus we left Liverpool on 9th August, 1928. It was Friday. And the ship was called SS Montcalm. Montcalm. M-O-N-T-C-A-L-M, Montcalm. So I can very clearly read the whole thing. And from the very first day I came on the ship, I wanted to show I am in no way inferior to any white man.

Just where I saw a girl, I went there. Just to show I am not inferior. I learnt their ways of conversation, their jokes and their manners. Because I know their conversations, their manners, their actions.

We are taking part in drinking and gambling and dancing everything on the ship. Not that I desire to take part in that. But to prove I can do what they can do. I can do what they can do. Then they say, look at that Indian.

He can't do what we can do. Then Sunday came. As I told you, 11th August, 1928. Of this year also, it was Sunday on 11th August. So I remember that morning very clearly. It was a very, very clear, nice day.

Sun was shining, she was very calm. So I saw another notice in the ship. She gained my habit of looking at notice. God knew that habit and again used it. So they came in that first class lounge. I saw the notice over there.

There will be a Christian service in the first class dining room at 10 o 'clock. I had never gone to a Christian service. I was never interested. I had never met anybody all these years who ever told me to go with them for their service.

I don't remember anybody ever coming to me, giving a dress or a book and saying to me, will you come with me. And after that, I was given a Bible in 1919 in Lahore, Pakistan. Very nice, gilted letter binding.

In those days, they were giving free copies to those who would pass exams. University exams. So I walked in the Bible society that morning. In the street called Anarkali. I saw the secretary. Sir, I have passed the exam.

This is my roll number. Will you kindly give me Bible? So he saw my roll number and he gave me very nice Bible, leather binding, gilted. And he showed my hatred for the Bible and the Christians. I tore it the very same day.

But I kept the cover for my notebook. That shows you my spiritual blindness of the early days. Your God is so gracious. As scripture says, by grace are you saved and death none of yourself. It is a gift of God.

None of us really speaking is worthy to receive God's love. If you look at ourselves, how by thoughts and by words and by deeds we grieve him so often. So I know my own corruption and my own defilements more than you do.

So till that day I had never thought of going to any Christian service. During my two years stay in London. I have passed by many many grand church buildings here and there. But no building ever affected me.

I never even bothered to go inside and see what is inside. Just passed by them looking at the side. But that morning their question again came. There will be a Christian service in the first class dining room at ten o 'clock.

So I took for granted that my companion are sure to go there. So I thought, If I don't go, they might say, look at that Indian, he never came to our service. So I said, I have to do dancing or drinking hall.

If I have gone to those, let me go here also. I can tell people, I have seen a Christian service also. So with that intention I went there. And nobody else came in my party. I was only one in my party who went there for their service.

Anyway I was occupied by the very last row. So I will never know what they are going to do. I was looking in this way, that way. Just to behave as they were behaving. They got up, I got up. They began to sing.

And I can't sing. I will even not move my mouth only. You let them think I am singing. Even though I can't sing even today. But you let them think, I can do everything they can do. So they sat down, I sat down.

And when they began to speak, I went to sleep. I said I am not that interested in that. I haven't come here for their sermons or their messages. I know much more about God than they do. Americans can teach us about motor cars.

We Indians can teach them about God. So with that argument I paid no attention to what he was saying. In the end they began to pray upon me. And I kept sitting. And I said I am not going to deal with them.

They don't belong to my country or my religion. I have seen them eating, drinking, dancing. How can they know about God? It's only hypocrisy. So it's not about to kneel down. But it felt very very awkward.

And I said it doesn't look nice. Either I should go out or kneel down. And I could not go out. I found one man kneeling on right side, left side. Then a thought came to me. I have traveled in many parts of India.

And I have seen men of all religion praying in the train, in the public garden, roadside, everywhere. And never in all my life I have ever disturbed anybody's prayer. I learned that lesson from my mother from the early days.

Never to disturb anybody in prayer. Whosoever they may be. I have never made fun of anybody in prayer. Whosoever they may be. I said all these years I have been respecting people of all religion. I should be respectful.

If I am going to education, I must be respectful. If I am going to education, I must be respectful. Just to be polite and respectful, I knelt down. And before that I had to break my pride. Personal pride.

National pride. Religious pride. And knelt down that very moment. Then I felt there are some divine powers falling upon me. In a very same field I have been saying there is no God. Everything is science.

We engineers, we doctors, we scientists are only person who can bring peace and prosperity. There is no God. Only those who are uncivilized they talk about God. I will sing that in my folly for many many months in 1927 and 1928.

But that morning 11th of August 1928 at about 11 o 'clock as I knelt down I could actually feel some divine power falling upon me. I began to say Lord Jesus Christ I know, I believe thou art the living Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ I know I believe thou art the living Christ. Now these words came from my lips again and again. I cannot tell you how they came. As I know I had no thought whatsoever of anything of the religion at that time.

Nobody ever spoke to me. Nobody ever discussed with me. But that experience shook me. And I could not forget that word living Christ. As I came on the upper deck it was a very nice day and the fellow passengers were walking on the upper deck for their morning midday walk.

So one man said to me Mr. are you a Christian? I said no sir. The first time in my life I have been to a Christian service. I have no idea about someone of Christianity and their teaching and their practices.

And he said to me going by your conversation and your views I think you are a Christian. But I do not remember at that time what I said to him. I was three months in Canada in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and Ontario these three big provinces.

Manitoba, Saskatchewan Saskatchewan and Ontario. And everywhere I found them very kind to me. Extremely kind. They were telling me they would not be so kind to me. But again I could see how God of love has put love in the hearts for me.

And that is why I went back to Canada second time. The loving kindness shown to me by those people gave me the courage to go back. At the same time I got an interest in the agricultural engineering. I knew that the India's need cannot be met by ordinary farming.

I could see that 40 years ago. That unless we use modern method of farming you cannot have sufficient food for India. With that intention I was going here and there to find out the most suitable method of the modern farming for India.

At that time there were hardly any tractor and the modern machine in India for agriculture. I was the first man from India who went there for that kind of training. To combine the engineering with agriculture.

I found very good prospects everywhere. They were very kind to me. So I thought now I could have a training as an engineer in agriculture. At the same time to be able to bring to India all the modern methods for farming.

Well you find India's biggest need is the new life. The real shortage is because of corruption in India. Sin is there and corruption there. See for example quite recently the flood came in Gujarat. And before the flood water reached Surat the collector was giving a warning to his servants to the whole city be careful flood is coming.

So many people left their shops and went to the riverside to see it's coming. They never thought the water will come so soon and so high. They had to see the water coming in the river from Jabalpur side even in the river bank.

In the meantime their neighbor robbed their shop. And the water came so suddenly. And there were more than 10 feet of water in some part of the city. 80 of the whole city came under water. And even that time there were men thinking of robbery and stealing and corruption.

Rather than helping them they were robbing them. India is suffering because of corruption and robbery and sin and defilement. From the highest to lowest circle. And that's why you find food sorted. For that time I never knew it.

God knew it. So I went on with my training and the desire went on becoming stronger and stronger to know something about the living Christ. Only that praise the living Christ took hold of me. So for full one year that's all I knew.

Besides that I had no idea of the life and the teaching of Lord Jesus Christ. I have never gone to budget. The Bible never knew what it was. But the living Christ prayer was coming again and again to me.

So one day in my travel in Winnipeg I met a young man by name Mr. Hanson. He was a bank manager and I said to him Mr. Hanson will you kindly lend me your Bible? He was very surprised at my request. His Bible?

I have heard you Indians don't like Bible. Why are you asking for a Bible? I told him I am not asking to tear it. No doubt many years ago I tore the Bible. But now this word comes to me again and again the living Christ.

I don't know anything about him. And I was growing in desire to know something about the living Lord Jesus Christ. So he gave me a small English pocket Testament on December 14 1929. I came to my room and began the Sabe book from the very first chapter of the first Gospel in Matthew.

That was for three hours. And I said in my BA I have read many well known books like Shakespeare or Milton or Bunyan Shakespeare Milton Bunyan I have never seen a book like this. Going by the language going by the style going by the words I have to admit no man can read such a way.

You can read many books of the whole world. You never come across such a simple language anywhere. So I said I have to acknowledge that no writer of any country can write such a way. How shall a great man be happy there is some peculiar charm and dignity about the wording of every verse.

Automatically I found in my heart reverence for every verse. So on third day I read the third chapter John Gospel and third verse and first part verily verily I say unto thee I couldn't go further because I have been saying in the heart this is a good book but only meant for American and European.

We have got our books in India. This book is only for American and European. When I said that I could feel some divine person coming to my room. I could not see him. I could feel him. Just as you feel the sun rays coming in the room and you feel warm.

I was conscious somebody has come. I am standing by me. I am saying to me don't say this book is not for you. This book is for you also. I say unto thee I say unto thee having heard those words and my heart began to beat faster.

Like thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump I say unto thee I say unto thee I say unto thee having heard that I knelt down straight away. I said Lord in that case I am a If this book belongs to me I am again a sinner.

I could see that day how I taught the bible in 1919 Anarkali Lahore. Then I saw for my body black spots. And there came a very fishy smell. Again came a very clear small voice. Focusing. The spots you are seeing and smell you are smelling is because of your sins.

And I could see all my sins. Right from my early days as far as age of three till that day I could see. My memory took me back to age of three. I could not go beyond that. I remember what happened to me at that time.

And I said Lord this is quite true. I have done all these shameful horrible things. Even though nobody knows it. Lord today I confess all my sins. I have to follow my body to see my parents. There are many shameful things.

I have money but no peace. I have education but I do not a I am going to I will be punished Lord, without understanding, I believe them. That your body was broken for me. Your blood was shed for me. And I asked him, My son, thy sin be forgiven thee.

Thy sin be forgiven thee. Now straight away, I lost every desire for all these worldly shameful things. Nobody said to me, don't do this. The desire left me. That time, I was slave to tobacco and liquor and cinema and novel and worldly pleasures.

You to spend one whole day, just to buy one toy. Go to one shop, second shop, third shop, like ladies. This is no good. That's no good. Spend whole day only for one time. Like a fool. But that time, all desire went away.

And it went away completely. Heavenly peace filled my heart. I found you love. All men became same to me. Love for the enemies. And above all, God became real to me. I could say truthfully, God has spoken to me.

He has forgiven me. He is coming to me. And change me. And with me. I know him. Because I began to talk to him everyday. And I found he was asking my question day by day. Read the whole Bible in six weeks.

I was so happy just to be in God's presence. So one day, a man comes to me. One very tall man. My name is Mr. Flynn. Very very strong hand. He shook my hand. How could such a man be a public speaker? Twice I said, Lord.

God’s Call to Service and the Cost of Surrender

I promise thee. I will give thee all my income. I have no desire whatsoever to earn money for myself. I give thee promise. I will give thee all my money, whatsoever they may be. But please, I beg thee, don't make me a preacher.

I can't be a preacher. For full two years, I said that. Lord, see, as an engineer, I can earn much money and spend much money in thy service. Lord, take my money, but spare me. Lord said to me again and again.

I don't want your money. I want you. I couldn't understand it. How could a man like me with so many handicaps ever be a public speaker? But he is able. He can use any one of us. I know I had to pray very hard for every word to be spoken.

Because my knees will start shaking. If I see even a small crowd, I feel very very nervous. Now, what to say, what to say, what to say? And yet God knew it. Maybe this evening God is calling some of you.

Don't disobey Him. Don't argue with Him. This day may never come again. God knows what He is doing. So in doing your limitation, He calls you. Follow Him. It took me two years of struggle to give my life.

My problem was, I was completely handicapped as a public speaker. Anyway, our two year struggle, On 4th April 1932, I yielded. Early morning half past two. Lord, I yield. I don't know how can you use men like me.

I haven't got the least qualification as a public speaker. I can't even sing a single note. I don't know how to even hold the Bible. And yet God was saying to me, I need thee. So God said to me, very clearly, On 4th April 1932, I accept you for my service on three conditions.

First of all, withdraw all your claims from your property in Punjab. Being a family eldest son, I had a share in the property. But God said, you give up your share. And don't take any salary from anybody.

And don't tell anybody about your needs. You tell me. And secondly, don't join any society. And thirdly, do not make your own plan. Let me lead you day by day. Lord, I agree. And it was settled. And I thank God for the grace shown even to me in calling me for his service.

But today, I still wonder. Why should a Lord choose a man like me? Without a doubt, I believe he forgave my sin. He is a loving Savior. He died in my stead. I believe that easily. Because he died in my stead, he forgave my sin.

But why should he call a man like me for his service? And the another least qualification. With all my limitations, he said, follow me. In the past years, I have had years of your blessings. I don't know how to thank him.

And that's why we are in this meeting. But I can't say, you can say. That you may also join with me and say a few words of thanks unto him for the mercy shown even to me. It was so good. He has supplied all my needs in abundance.

How gracious. Even though I would have had the highest salary in the whole world. Even that wouldn't satisfy my needs. But now, day by day, he goes on showering and multiplying in abundance. What do you think?

And above all, the privilege and the joy and the honor to see others finding the same peace. As Scripture says, literally, he is loading me with benefits every day. And you find in Psalm 68 and verse 19.

He says in English, he daily loads me with benefits. In 30 years, when they are loading a camel, the man knows how much he can carry. Some of the camels can carry lots of load. More than donkey and horses.

They can carry a very big load. And the camel owners, they know, of every camel, how much they can carry. They know by experience. This camel can carry so many more. That camel can carry so many more.

Going by that, they go on loading. But many may say, how can that camel carry so much? For a camel and a nose. I know my camel. I know how many he can carry. With that, he goes on loading and loading.