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Straw Rags, Wilderness
Bakht Singh

Bakht Singh Chabra (1903 - 2000). Indian evangelist, church planter, and Bible teacher born in Joiya, Punjab (now Pakistan), to a devout Sikh family. Educated at Punjab University, he studied agricultural engineering in England (1926-1928) and Canada (1929-1932), embracing a Western lifestyle, including smoking and drinking, while rejecting his Sikh roots by shaving his hair. Initially hostile to Christianity—once tearing a Bible apart—he converted in 1929 in Winnipeg after reading the New Testament, influenced by Christian friends John and Edith Hayward. Returning to India in 1933, he began preaching as an Anglican evangelist, later becoming independent, sparking the 1937 Martinpur revival, a pivotal movement in Indian Christianity. In 1941, after a night of prayer in Chennai, he founded Hebron Ministries, establishing over 10,000 indigenous churches modeled on New Testament principles across India and South Asia. Singh authored books like How I Got Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory and held annual “Holy Convocations” in Madras, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Kalimpong, drawing thousands. Married to Rama Bai at age 12 in 1915, little is recorded of their personal life. His contextualized gospel, blending Indian spirituality with biblical truth, earned him the title “Elijah of the 21st Century” in Indian Christendom. Singh’s words, “I have never asked any man for anything, but the Lord is richly supplying all my needs,” reflect his faith-driven ministry. Despite Parkinson’s disease in his final decade, his legacy endures through Hebron’s global network and writings, praised by figures like Ravi Zacharias.
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Sermon Summary
In this sermon, the Lord's servant discusses the concept of possessing material things and the importance of true wisdom. The speaker emphasizes that our possessions on earth are temporary and fleeting, and that true wisdom comes from God. The sermon references the story of Job, highlighting his longing for true wisdom and salvation. The speaker concludes by stating that Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of wisdom, sanctification, and redemption, and that through him, we can have everlasting possession.
Sermon Transcription
The message on straw, rags and wilderness released by the Lord's Servant, Brother Bhagat Singh on the evening of 7th November 1970 during the All India Holy Convocation's gathering in Selvettapur, Hyderabad. The message translated into Telugu language by the Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, Brother Bindu Samuel of Vilaspur. The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, Brother Bindu Samuel of Vilaspur. and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, Brother Bindu Samuel of Vilaspur. The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, Brother Bindu Samuel of Vilaspur. The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, Brother Bindu Samuel of Vilaspur. The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, the greatness is unsearchable. The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, The Lord's Servant, Brother K.N. Agasthin and Hindi by the Lord's Servant, of the Greatness. We will be seeing how our loving God, Bhagavad Gita have Divine Wisdom which is very necessary from something of the Goodness. Now we saw last evening a man like Job who was at that time the great wise man in the East. But he never regarded that wisdom as a real wisdom. Never did it. He is longing for true wisdom again and again. And we saw that in chapter 28 how he says the real wisdom is far more precious than the wealth of the whole world together. The whole universe. Now we give him that wisdom. God took him to every imaginable suffering, affliction and sorrow. Then he says in chapter 42 Now we are living with the grace of God. But now we are living with the grace of God. Lord is trying to spend their price on our behalf which we can't pay for their wisdom. Yes sir. He gave all what he had to give him that wisdom and himself became a wisdom. And to give him that wisdom whatever he had he paid it all. He himself is our wisdom. And that's why we have become very precious in his eyes. He suffered on our behalf. Willingly he gave himself that he himself a living person may become our everlasting heavenly spiritual wisdom. He gave himself that he himself a living person may become our everlasting heavenly spiritual wisdom. As we see in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30 and 31 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30 1 Corinthians chapter 1 What of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and sanctification and redemption. Wisdom means eternal wisdom. Righteousness means everlasting righteousness. Sanctification also forever. Redemption forever we are purchased forever. We become his purchased possession. What we have upon the earth we can't take with us. When we die we leave behind what we have. When we die we leave behind what we have. We came in the world naked and we go away naked. We came in the world naked and we go away naked. None of us can claim to have upon the earth any everlasting possession. None of us can claim to have upon the earth any everlasting possession. But now the mystery is Lord has watched us for you and me to be in everlasting possession. In the regard of the heaven above the so wonderful is everlasting property All these stars and the planets what we see above none of them will pass away. What we see above none of them will pass away. They are very very far away and also very very many. And some of these stars are far bigger than these earths. But God worships all the stars and all the planets but God worships every fold a dirty vesture and a garment same way all the heaven will be folded as one of it. A day is coming and by one word of Lord Jesus Christ all these disappear. He will give you one chapter from verse 10 And thou Lord in the beginning and later foundation of the earth heaven above thy hand they shall perish but thou remainest they all shall be old and the garment and the vesture will fold them up and they shall be changed without a trace. And thou Lord in the beginning and later foundation of the earth heaven above thy hand they shall perish but thou remainest they all shall be old and the garment and the vesture will fold them up and they shall be changed They shall perish They shall be folded and thrown away Again our Lord has confirmed it and He started in Matthew 24-35 Again our Lord has confirmed it in Matthew 24-35 Heaven and the earth shall perish He said I will not ever throw these things as it is true property. Our Lord said to these things as it is true property. But He regards you and me as property. But He regards you and me as true property. Now we take pleasure sometimes in showing our friends or neighbors what we possess, what we have. We take pleasure in showing our friends or neighbors what we possess, what we have. When our friends come to our house we take pleasure in showing them our house, our different rooms and building of our house. They like to show their furniture whatever they possess here and there. But they won't like to see their dirty glasses on the kitchen side. They won't like to see their dirty towels in the bathroom. They won't like to see their dirty towels in the bathroom. They won't like to see their drying room. All these high-class furniture from there will be shown. But the bathroom towel will never wash for three months. They won't show you. They won't show you the dirty towels in the bathroom for three months. Are you still not five years old? Never change. They won't show your dirty towels for five years. They show everything best. If you question the Lord Jesus Christ, if by some means you are carried to heaven, if by some means you are carried to heaven, it is possible. It is possible. Once upon a time he was carried to heaven. He was carried to the third heaven. He was carried to the third heaven. And he sees the Lord face to face. Are you one to question him? Lord, won't you let me see your property? I beg you, Lord, won't you let me come to heaven? Lord, won't you let me come to heaven? When I go down again, my friends question me, what did you see in heaven? What is your property? Lord, tell the subject. Lord, help. You people are my property. The heavens are not my property. The heavens are not my property. These angels are not my property. You people whom I have redeemed by my blood, are my property. You who have been bought by my blood, are my property. Only a great God can do this. Only a great God can do this. Humans and we take other things as our property. You never got a dirty anti-Semitic property. We will consider your property as dirty. What is the difference? What is the difference? God says, in verse 64, we are an unclean thing in filthy land. We are a filthy leaf. In verse 64, we are unclean thing in filthy land. We are an unclean thing in filthy land. We are unclean thing in filthy land. We are unclean thing in filthy land. We are all unclean people. Our religion is like a dog. Our religion is like a dog. Because we are called by these names. Unclean things. A filthy rat. A dry leaf. Whosoever you may be. Not any position, many wealth. If so far God has given you sin. You are nothing but a filthy rat. And yet we can become God everlasting property possessor. At table twenty. At twenty eight. At five o'clock. Take even your soul unto yourself out of the flock over the rich. The holy ghost has made you a seer to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. The same way if he wants to feed. The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. The same way if he wants to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. Your body belongs to him, your time belongs to him, your money belongs to him. You find the same again. I am a priest. And twenty years. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are God. And you are not your own. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are God. And you are not your own. You are bought with a price. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. You are bought with a price. You are bought with a price. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It is in you. But know you not, your body is a temple of a holy ghost. It was very precious. And very willingly, he gave all that he had. So by that field, as he possessed that everlasting treasure, only about Lord Vishnu, we could say such a word, such a language. He is our creator. He is our power. He made us. He is the creator of the heavens. But rebirth, he came down. He emptied himself. Born in a manger. And no house to live in. And he said, foxes have homes. Goats have nests. So the man had no credit head. He had a whole body broken. He has to be set apart. He has to be plucked. The back of his head. Only he, only he willingly gave it. As we see in the sermons. Number 13. And he said, and for joy thereof, he went and sold all that he had. With joy he gave, not by pressure. Only about him, we can say this word. I thank you. He gave all that he had. As we see in Psalm 41, it says, I lied to thy beloved God. As we see in Psalms 48, I am happy. But you see that, he gave all that he had. He gave all that he had. Let the man talk by any name. You may call us by any name. But when we come unto him. As demons of Syria. When we come into Syria. Everlasting Syria. There was one missionary. In America. He had been working in China for many years. When he went back to America from China. He bought few necklaces just to show his friends. Very very cheap. Not more than 20 rupees. One day he had no money in the house. He decided to sell the necklace. He thought he may get about 25 rupees for that necklace. So he took it to one shop, second shop. One man offered him 30 rupees. One man said, I will give you 15 rupees. Second shopkeeper said, I will give you 20 rupees. Third shopkeeper said, I will give you 25 rupees. Third shopkeeper said, I will give you 30 rupees. He went to the fourth shopkeeper. Will you like to buy this from me? So he took it from his hands. And examined it very carefully. And he said to him, I will give you 3 lakh rupees for it. This is what. Are you making fun of me? I am in trouble. I thought you may like to have as a curiosity. How much do you want? Why are you giving so much money? You give me writing, I promise to sell this shop, necklace, same amount. He said, you give me writing, I promise to sell this shop, necklace, same amount. So he gave writing. So he gave writing. I promise to sell this shop, necklace, same amount. He gave me cash. More than 3 lakhs. J, J, J, everywhere. Did you know the necklace was given by Emperor Napoleon to Queen Josephine? And gave on her birthday. And when Napoleon died, Josephine died also. Whatever they had was lost in the French treasury. But some clever thieves in France, they stole the necklace. In India, we have a chappal thief, another thief, a trouble thief. In America, we have a very clever thief. They don't steal chappals, they steal diamond jewels. So he told him, the French government has been advertising. The reward of 6 lakhs, nobody will find the necklace. Because of the name Napoleon Josephine, the French government is very precious. So he said, I have paid you 3 lakhs. He said, I gave you 3 lakhs. Now I will earn 3 lakhs more. This is a true story. So the necklace became the peculiar treasure of the French government. Maybe more than 6 lakhs, I tell that to you. In your eyes, Lord, just like every believer, is a peculiar treasure. In the eyes of every believer, every believer is a very precious treasure. He is not regarded angels as it happens. They are mighty angels. Trust in the heart and words of God. Have you seen Psalm 103, verse 20? They are mighty angels. Excelling in strength. Trust in the heart and words of God. Not like us. That is constantly disobeying God. And they are many angels. Except 5, verse 7. The 5th verse, verse 11. They are many angels. And yet God does not regard them. He is everlasting possession. And yet God does not regard them as everlasting possession. He regards you and me. He knows how we can be fully transformed by him one day and become his everlasting sanctuary. He knows how we can be fully transformed by him one day and become his everlasting sanctuary. See for example, Psalm 84, verse 3. See for example, Psalm 84, verse 3. You have seen these sparrows gathering these pieces of straw in your neighborhood, building a den. You have seen these sparrows gathering these pieces of straw in your neighborhood, building a den. Now Madam Sparrow, one thing gives you most comfort. Does my electric fan give you comfort? Does my electric fan give you comfort? The floor of this house is made of marble. The floor of this house is made of marble. The furniture is made of high gloss. The furniture is made of high gloss. Does this give you comfort? Does this give you comfort? No Madam, I am very happy in my nest. No Madam, I am very happy in my nest. I don't need this floor and this sofa. I don't need this floor and this sofa. You give it to your neighbors and your aunts. You give it to your neighbors and your aunts. For me, my nest is very happy, very comfortable. I won't study it for any amount of money, it will give you so comfortable, and that's why I don't study it for any amount of money, it will give you so comfortable. I don't study it for any amount of money, it will give you so comfortable, and that's why I don't study it for any amount of money, it will give you so comfortable, and that's why I don't study it for any amount of money. I don't study it for any amount of money. I don't study it for any amount of money.
Straw Rags, Wilderness
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Bakht Singh Chabra (1903 - 2000). Indian evangelist, church planter, and Bible teacher born in Joiya, Punjab (now Pakistan), to a devout Sikh family. Educated at Punjab University, he studied agricultural engineering in England (1926-1928) and Canada (1929-1932), embracing a Western lifestyle, including smoking and drinking, while rejecting his Sikh roots by shaving his hair. Initially hostile to Christianity—once tearing a Bible apart—he converted in 1929 in Winnipeg after reading the New Testament, influenced by Christian friends John and Edith Hayward. Returning to India in 1933, he began preaching as an Anglican evangelist, later becoming independent, sparking the 1937 Martinpur revival, a pivotal movement in Indian Christianity. In 1941, after a night of prayer in Chennai, he founded Hebron Ministries, establishing over 10,000 indigenous churches modeled on New Testament principles across India and South Asia. Singh authored books like How I Got Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory and held annual “Holy Convocations” in Madras, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Kalimpong, drawing thousands. Married to Rama Bai at age 12 in 1915, little is recorded of their personal life. His contextualized gospel, blending Indian spirituality with biblical truth, earned him the title “Elijah of the 21st Century” in Indian Christendom. Singh’s words, “I have never asked any man for anything, but the Lord is richly supplying all my needs,” reflect his faith-driven ministry. Despite Parkinson’s disease in his final decade, his legacy endures through Hebron’s global network and writings, praised by figures like Ravi Zacharias.