Bakht Singh Funeral - Part 1 — Bakht Singh

The Prayer of Redemption and Consecration

You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, said the Lord. Lord, highly resolve this union with the heart, full of worship, praise, adoration, keep them at thy feet. We thank thee for redeeming us by the pure blood of the everlasting covenant.

Deliverance from Darkness into Christ's Kingdom

We thank thee for delivering us from the power of darkness. We thank thee for translating us into the kingdom of thy dear son. Bhagat Singh was born in Sargodha, now in Pakistan, on June 6, 1903, in a Sikh Orthodox family.

Bhagat Singh's Early Rejection of Christianity

He was named Bhagat Singh Chhabra. He attended Christian Mission School and used to make fun of Bible teachers and pastors. At his passing out from school, he was gifted a beautiful leather Bible. He loved the leather binding, but not the contents of it.

He tore away the Bible and kept the leather cover. Such was his hatred towards Christianity. He was very Orthodox to his Sikh religion and spent many hours in Sikh temple. In September 1926, Bhagat Singh left for London for higher studies.

He was the first agricultural engineer from India. His ambition in life was to travel around the world, obtain high education, enjoy the friendship with all kinds of people and remain faithful to his religion.

A Pursuit of Worldly Success Without Inner Peace

Within three months, he cut his holy hair and removed his beard to look like European. He started smoking, drinking, visiting theatres and dancing halls. He made English friends, but still deep inside he found no happiness.

Encountering Christ During a Shipboard Service

In the year 1928, Bhagat Singh went to Canada by ship on a holiday. On 10th August 1928, he saw a notice board saying Christian service would be held in the first class dining saloon. To act as an Englishman, he attended the service, went to the church for first time and occupied a back seat.

When all stood up to sing, he stood up. And when they sat, he sat down too. And when the preacher began to preach, he fell asleep. After the sermon, all knelt down to pray. He wanted to go out, but found one kneeling on the right and another on the left.

So, he knelt down too. When he knelt down, he felt a great change coming over him. His body was trembling. He could feel divine power and was repeating the name of Jesus. He began to say, O Lord Jesus, blessed be thy name, blessed be thy name.

Conviction and Repentance Through John 3:3

On 14th December 1928, Bhagat Singh asked a friend, Hudson, for a copy of the Bible. Hudson was taken aback at his strange request. You, a Hindu, an Indian, want your Bible? Bhagat Singh said, These very hands have torn the Bible.

These very lips have blasphemed against Christ. On receiving a New Testament, Bhagat Singh began reading. When he reached John's Gospel, chapter 3, verse 3, which says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, has convicted him.

His heart began to beat faster. Tears rolled down and he began to say, O God, please forgive me. His past sins were coming before him. He learned that he was a greatest sinner. He knelt down and confessed all his past sins.

Baptism and a Life of Testimony

He was filled with joy and kept on repeating the name of Jesus. In 1929 December, Bhagat Singh was gifted a full Bible on Christmas by Hudson as he only had a New Testament. In February 4th, 1932, Bhagat Singh testified in the Waters of Baptism at Vancouver, Canada.

After which, he started sharing his testimony to friends from place to place. In April 6th, 1933, Bhagat Singh arrived in Bombay after seven years. His parents came to receive him and told him to keep his religion a secret to himself and not to tell anyone that he became a Christian.

Refusing to Hide His Faith in Christ

He said, Can I live without breathing? When Christ is my life, how can I live without Him?