day 88c: Our Father Who is in heaven

I continue what I have started in my previous record. Pray as if you want it to happen. Pray as if you believe whole-heartedly in what you pray. Otherwise I am just wasting my time. The prayer alone cannot please God. The prayer action cannot achieve anything for me. This is my experience. Even when I pray and hear those Biblically words they are of no use because they are not mixed with faith. The words of God need to be received with faith in the receiver’s heart.

I have read the Lord’s Prayer again and summarize below what I have discovered about the kingdom of heaven on earth (as it is in heaven).

1. Our Father in heaven is the only One (God) we are to worship: As this prayer is a daily prayer, it means the kingdom citizens are to worship God every day.

2. Attitude of worship: our hearts must be filled with reverence, giving honor and glory to God. Kingdom citizens must seek to know Him as we worship Him, see the glory and holiness of His presence, and be awed.

3. Our heart desire is for God: we must be thirsting for the kingdom of God. We want the kingdom to come and we desire the righteousness that comes with the kingdom. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, as Jesus urged the kingdom citizens to do.

4. Take our daily heavenly bread: This means we are to read the words of God daily, (like taking food for our body). We are to take the words seriously as they are divine life and divine health in the words of God for the kingdom citizens.

5. Be watchful for spiritual war:

1. The kingdom citizens do not put themselves in ways of temptations. We are urged to run away when temptation comes. We have been freed from being enslaved by the worldly temptations (including all entertainments, multi-media, popular culture, junk food that abuse the body and bad habits that open door to the devil to come in to steal, kill and destroy) as Jesus has died for us and redeemed us by His blood. We are to remain in Him and not be tempted. We are to take daily action to protect our children too and not to expose them or worse, introduce them to temptations!

2. The kingdom citizens are watchful and are aware that there are evil spiritual beings (principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12)

6. Be reconciled with the Father in heaven and with men on earth. Be ready to be a part of the body of Christ. Forgive.

7. Our goal is to give glory to God. The kingdom citizens have only one goal-giving glory to God (our Father in heaven).

All these can only be practiced in our daily living through the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, these would be impossible.

Be filled by the Holy Spirit, my brethren.

AAA Jack

2009-5-29

day 88b: on earth as it is in heaven

I return to Matthew and ponder on the Lord’s Prayer (rather, the prayer Jesus taught the disciples to pray). I quote the whole prayer as follows:
Matthew 6:9-13 (New King James Version)

9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Previously I only touched on the cancellation of debts. Lately I thought of the word ‘kingdom’. Jesus came and preached that the kingdom of heaven was near. He has preached a whole series of kingdom living prior to teaching this prayer. He is showing us how the kingdom of heaven is like and how different it would be from the natural worldly political kingdom built by men.

This prayer is not just an ordinary prayer. I cannot simply discount it as a simple prayer for a beginner Christian to practice praying. The prayer gives a glimpse of how the kingdom of heaven should be lived on earth: daily worshipping and honoring God (just as what we will be doing in heaven), living in His will (reflecting the reality of heaven), living on heavenly manna (the words of God), putting relationship and reconciliation with God and with men priority over possessions and entitlement, overcoming the old self and the devil by the grace of God, and giving glory to God only.

To carry out the prayer contents daily faithfully requires the presence of the Holy Spirit. We can only worship in spirit and in truth. We need Him to teach our spirit how to worship. We also need Him to guide us as we read the words of God. We need the conviction of the Holy Spirit to enable us to live out the will of God. We need Him to strengthen us and fill us with God’s love so that we may forgive one another. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal to us visions of the greatness and glory of God.

Saying this prayer means you are prepared to live it. Living this prayer requires the presence and filling of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, the prayer means nothing. It would not work any miracles if you merely recite it like a robot does. It would mean you do not really believe in it and in reciting mechanically you are insulting Jesus (the author of the prayer). Unbelief cancels out any faith you may have. Without faith one cannot please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

My application: mean what I pray for or otherwise not pray. Learn to practice the contents of this prayer daily by the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the communion of the Holy Spirit.

AAA Jack 2009-5-29

day 87: sheep and tortoise

I have been interceding for someone close and whom I love dearly, a little child. I asked God to reveal to me wisdom so I know how to advise her mother. It was not easy as sometimes I ran out of words and I stayed silent before God, who seemed silent too. Then last night the breakthrough came in a strange way.

I went to bed early and had a dream. When I woke around 3am, I told myself that perhaps I need to look up those verses as they may be the answer God gives me. However, I immediately heard a shout from next to me, the wife is dreaming too and she shouted in a language which she does not use unless necessary. She uttered a full sentence but I managed to catch two words, “sheep” and “negotiate”. I immediately thought of John Chapter 10 (all about sheep) as I thought she was reading this before she slept. So I told myself the next morning I would look up the verses from my dream and hers. I went back to sleep and had another dream.

I dreamed that I cycled to a stationary shop and bought one small inexpensive item. I was asked to pay a great sum. I paid. Then I realized and asked why I had to pay so much. The shop lady showed me a long list of items for which she had billed me. I was puzzled and said I came on a bicycle and could not possible have bought such a lot of stuff. The shop lady explained, “It is because of ‘Yuan-Yuan’ which means ‘round-round’ in Chinese, in your elder sister’s car”.

I woke. This time I did not delay. I went downstairs. I worshipped and sang hymns. Then I prayed and waited for guidance from the Holy Spirit. I saw some pictures.

I had forgotten the verses from my first dream but I remembered the rest. So I read John Chapter 10 about Jesus being the shepherd and He laid down His life for His sheep. Indeed, He had paid a great price for His sheep. He said He has the absolute authority over life (to take and give). Then I was led to read Chapter 11, wherein Jesus said about Lazarus, “This illness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (11:4)

Jesus then resurrected Lazarus saying four key commands:

He commanded the people there “Take away the stone.” (11:39) (Note: The stone is put there by men, to prevent the stench from coming out.)

He told Martha (sister of Lazarus), “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (11:40) (Note: Two conditions are needed, believe, and wanting to see the glory of God!)

He commanded Lazarus, “Lazarus, come forth!” (11:43) (Note: you need to come close to Jesus! Jesus is Life!)

After Lazarus came out he was still wrapped in grave clothes and Jesus commanded, “Loose him, and let him go!” (11:44) (Note: Loose him from all bondages that tie him down. Cut off those hindrances and he shall live as a free man in Christ!)

_________________________

I record below the pictures I saw before I read the Bible verses:

1. Jesus carries a little lamb (fat) on his shoulder, walking towards me.

2. Jesus carries a tortoise on his back, walking up a hill.

3. Jesus way in front, followed by a weather beaten tortoise (whom I believe, is me), and a long line of tortoises, climbing a mountain.

When the wife came downstairs I asked her whether she was reading John Chapter 10 before she slept. She said, no, she was reading Chapter 15. So it was the Holy Spirit that prompted me to read Chapter 10 after all which confirmed the second dream I had and also the two words the wife uttered.

What a strange but meaningful encounter. God answers prayers!

AAA Jack

May 28, 2009

day 86: hearing God’s words (practical novice guide)

I have learned through unusual (sometimes ridiculous) ways in my endeavor to hear God’s words. So I decide to sum up what I have learned for information and encouragement. Every person must learn to find his own way. When you see how God is so ever ready to be found, you will be comforted and motivated to seek to know God.

Jesus has portrayed God on earth. The best way to start to know God is to read everything about Jesus. Look carefully at Jesus. Read what Jesus says many times until you become familiar with what Jesus says. Read with the single goal of knowing Jesus. Pray that the Holy Spirit guides you.

When I first read Jesus seriously at the beginning of this series of record, I had a difficult time because I was not spiritual at all. I “knew” the Holy Spirit only in my head, not in my spirit. I used my head to read and thought I knew all about the words of God. It seemed a straightforward project like any others. How wrong I was.

However, as I progressed and persevered, things happened. I was changed. A number of things helped.

1. I bought a new Bible (New King James Version, Giant print, words of Christ in red) just for the quest. I started afresh, un-influenced by my past perception, like and dislike. Verses appear now as though I never read them before.

2. I write down notes.

3. As I receive new insights (words, verses, pictures/visions, dreams, hymns, songs, and messages from third parties) I record them (not always immediately as I felt lazy to get up from bed and so missed the chance). But what I had recorded helped me to know God more.

4. I pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit, ponder over the thoughts and search the Bible. I sometimes chew on the thoughts for days and wait for confirmation. When confirmation comes I would believe that my earlier thought comes from the Holy Spirit.

5. I practice what that I have learned from godly people. I practice until I find my own way.

6. I changed my life priorities, my goals, my perspectives. In fact, it was the Lord, I believe, who initiated the changes. As I put my quest before Him, He intervened supernaturally, put me on the right path and gave me the strength to carry through.

An entrepreneur told me that when he dreamed of new inventions or bits and pieces of new things, he would jump out of bed, draw the pictures, and jot down notes without delay. He is a shrewd business man who endeavors to keep track of his human thoughts to develop them into something ‘profitable’.

Much more we should keep track and make good use of the supernatural truth from heaven that the Holy Spirit put into our minds, and confirmed by the Bible. The businessman gropes in the uncertain market to find his way. But we have a sure guide and guarantee from the Holy Spirit. We have the certainty of the manual (the Bible) too.

The Holy Spirit guides by ways that He thinks will best suit each individual.

Pray you find the right key.

AAA Jack

May 27, 2009

day 85: He who is of God hears

“He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” (John 8:47)

What? Have I read wrongly? No. Jesus is very clear and straight forward here. He is not speaking in parable. The audiences were the scribes and Pharisees of those days. They kept questioning Jesus but never heard what Jesus said. Their hearts and minds were filled with their own agenda. Then Jesus proclaimed this shocking statement. “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.”

It appeared that the audience became deaf to what Jesus said because they were too busy listening to their father (the devil)’s instructions. They were fully occupied and committed to do what the devil wanted them to do. They were obeying the devil and not obeying God. They trusted the devil and not God. In short, they were the sons of the devil, and not the sons of God.

Today, God speaks to us through His words in the Bible, through the Holy Spirit, through many means (signs, dreams, visions, wonders, third parties, messages, hymns and songs) including His still small voice in our hearts. Yet many Christians cannot hear. Why?

Is it because many are listening to the wrong source? To the wrong voice? Is it because they are too busy listening and obeying the devil instead of God? is it because they are not of God?

Frightening thoughts. I would urge churches to do a survey of all your members and find out how many hear God. Does the pastor hear God? I would also urge you to do your own assessment. Do you hear God? Do your children hear God?

During Jesus time, the people, including the disciples, did not have the Holy Spirit in them to lead them, to tell them what Jesus said and what that meant. The followers of Jesus did not have the Bible to guide them. But they had Jesus in the physical person in their midst. They had seen Him performing all sorts of miracles proving He is God. Yet they did not hear what He say and did not believe Him. Jesus said they did not hear because they were not of God.

There are people who are of God. They can hear God.

There are people who are not of God. They cannot hear God.

Which category are you in? Which category do you want to be?

My application: continue to seek God’s presence and learn to hear Him. Continue to read the Bible and hear God. Continue to give thanks and hear God. Continue to worship and hear God. Continue to pray and hear God. Continue to rest in God and hear God. Align my life values with that of God’s kingdom and hear God. Continue to encourage my family and friends to hear God with me. Continue to learn from the Holy Spirit to hear God.

AAA Jack

May 26 2009

day 84: You shall see

Most of us like to see ourselves in the future, more blessed, richer, more healthy, younger looking, slimmer and fitter, marrying to a kinder/more loving wife, having smarter and more obedient children, living in bigger houses, driving a newer car etc. When we worship God we tend not to see God/Jesus as He is, but see the things He can give us. We try to declare our love for God, whilst our eyes are on things and not on God.
The things that we want are not really bad. Blessing, feeling, healing, gifts etc. – God has promised to give them to us freely anyway. We also tend to display the obvious symptoms of worldly worries and unbelief: painful trying, ceaseless holding, constant drifting, busy planning, and anxious caring, constant asking, wanting, using God, giving glory to and laboring for self.

Why do Christians behave this way? Oswald Chambers said this, “The danger with us is that we want to water down the things that Jesus says and make them mean something in accordance with commonsense. If it was only commonsense, it was not worthwhile for Him to say it!”

Christians read the Bible without reading. Prophet Isaiah predicted this. People are not deaf but they cannot hear. People are not blind but they cannot see. Something great and supernatural will happen if they indeed hear or see!

In my earlier records on living Biblically, I omitted a number of passages because I found them too hard to meditate upon. I had no idea how to apply them. But God in His mercy and patience led me back to those passages bit by bit. I have been dreaming of reading the Bible and talking to and discussing with the invisible what those passages meant and whether I need to ponder more. By the time I woke up I forgot the passages although they were so clear in the dreams. Once in a while I woke with a clear word stuck to me and today I had this word “Baptism” stuck to me as I woke. I recalled the passage that I had skipped previously.

I have recently encountered violent and irrational objections and fears (panic and hysteria) from adult un-believer men that their family members, e.g. elderly parents, become baptized into Christ. They even go to the extent that they rather their parents die than becoming a Christian. At first I thought they were just superstitious as they thought baptism is some thing like brainwashing used by the totalitarian government.

During the last few days I had some passing thoughts of the event of baptism and knew in my spirit that it could mean more than just a ritual or tradition or a practice of witnessing. There is a supernatural meaning, I thought. Something happens in heaven (where God lives) when a person is baptized into Christ. Like the Holy Sprit it is another identity or warranty card. However I did not proceed with that thought and soon forgot.

Reading the Bible again about baptism and what Jesus says, I realize now that baptism is not as simple and ordinary as a lot of Christians think. Definitely it is not a matter of commonsense.

When Jesus was baptized, something supernatural was revealed. “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.” (Matthew 3:16)

“And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

1. The heavens (pleural) were opened to Jesus. Many layers of heavens all opened instantly, all the way up to ‘the heaven’ where God lives.

2. God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) came down (from ‘the heaven’) and alighted upon Jesus.

3. God spoke from heaven (‘the heaven’ where He lives).

4. God expressed His special love and favor for Jesus.

Remember that the devil and his gang were up there in heavens (the layers between earth and ‘the heaven’ where God lives). They could not interfere at all. They were powerless to block the pathway to heaven and for heaven to come down! They probably fled from the bright light of God’s presence.

When Jesus told His newly acquired (reluctant) disciple, Nathanael, Jesus ‘saw’ him (transcending space and distance limitation), he was convinced and immediately believed that Jesus was the Son of God. But Jesus said, “You will see greater things than this. Most assuredly I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (Matthew 1:50-51)

The disciples became eye witnesses of Jesus in all the great things that Jesus did later. Yes, heaven opened. Great supernatural things happened.

After Jesus resurrected from the dead, before He ascended into heaven, He gave a command to His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)

I sum up what Jesus says as follows:

1. Jesus now has the supreme authority over heaven and earth.

2. He commanded the disciples to make disciples of all the nations.

3. The physical responsibilities of making disciples include: baptizing them, teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded them.

4. Being baptized in the name of God the Father, the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit, means being included in the trinity God’s exclusive kingdom. Those baptized are officially the citizens of that kingdom. They enjoy all the rights and privileges of that kingdom.

5. One exclusive privilege is that Jesus will come and stay with those who have accepted the inclusion by the trinity God in this way, forever.

Wow! No wonder the devil and his minions panic and go into hysteria when they hear of someone likely to be baptized into Christ! A baptized person has died to the world (no longer under the devil’s rule) and now lives to God. One more defeat to the devil.

My application: carry on reading God’s words with my heart opened to the Spirit so I would not omit what Jesus says. My advice to those who have believed but have not yet baptized is that you do not have much time. Just do it now! Get your children to be baptized too. You will not regret it. Believe me.

AAA Jack

May 25 2009

day 83: Come and See

I am led to elaborate on what I had recorded on the previous day. Jesus told the two novice followers to come and see if they wanted to know more about Him. This is what I have been telling practically everyone who asks me about whatever aspect of life they worry about. Come and see what? Come and see who? My answer is always Jesus.
Some people admire the life that I am living and wish that they can be this blessed. I always advise them to look at Jesus instead. I have decided to make my life as simple as possible gradually over the years and now subsist on very little. As I have mentioned before, I have cleared the sitting room of everything that I do not use daily. What is the point of having a lovely room with things that I hardly use? I hardly invite guests. I spend my time seeking God and meditating on His words. People do seek me out once in a while when they are in a dilemma. I do not give them advice on worldly matter anymore. What is the point? The inside will determine the outside. It is more important to get their inside right first. Otherwise it would be madness (doing the same thing again and again, because their insides are unchanged, hoping for a different result).

A number of thing happened. Recently I heard of the death of a man (an artist whose works sell well). He suffered from heart attack and had an operation. Then he decided to seek divine healing so he became a Christian and came to the Prayer House. However, because he still hoped to sell more of his art, he continued to be involved in working on idols. When he was again feeling quite sick he came back to the Prayer House, but he died while sitting on a bench chatting. He screamed, “They are here to take me! Help!” collapsed on the floor and died instantly. Lately another person was under severe spiritual attack too. She kept having fever for no medical reason. She recounted that one day she felt as if her soul was being pulled off her body and she could not breathe and was choking before another force suddenly pulled her back into her body. She regained her breathing ability and survived.

Prior to these two incidents, I heard testimony of two dreams by two different persons. I sum them up as follows:

1. A young woman married with one baby (about 8 months old) dreamed that her father in law has sold his three cars. All were sold at a price 20% of the market price at that time. the salesman who came and took the cars away left his card which bore the number recorded in the Book of Revelation, “666”. When this happened the woman’s child was about 2-3 years old.

2. A man dreamed that he was on a plane. The plane tried to take off many times but could not do so and he was puzzled. Then he heard clearly the words, “It’s the economy, stupid!” The next day at lunch he walked into a bookstore and the first book he picked up was a prediction of worsening of the economy in the second half year until 2012.

I attended a large and prosperous looking church on Sunday and found that they did not preach about Jesus. They preached on the faith people in Hebrews 11 but omitted to preach the part about what motivated the faith people to remain faithful. Without knowing what motivated them, how could we learn to be faithful people too? I shall quote those important omitted verses as follows so the truth can show us how and set us free.

(From Abel to Abraham and Sarah) “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. But now they desire a better that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:13-14, 16)

Concerning Moses, “esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him (Jesus Christ) who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:26-27)

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that s set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Yes, they all had seen the invisible. The God who was to come into the midst of men. The faithful people had seen what others could not see. How did they see? They saw in their spirit.

My application: continue to see in my spirit how great and wonderful God is. So far I have only received three words and the urging to read three passages of the Bible. I received the word, “glory” first. Then I was asked to read three passages. Lately I received the word “holy”. Last Sunday morning I was pondering on these words before I attended church. I wanted to know what they meant, appearing to me as I woke from dreams. During the worship the short choruses were all about God’s glory and holiness. Then I attended the Prayer House worship too at night and the songs were about the same two words! The songs pointed our focus to Jesus. Then the worship leader ended his songs by singing one which proclaimed, “Glory, glory, glory!” to Lord God Almighty. Amen. (I shall continue to focus on these two words and see Jesus all the time)

Brethren, abide in Christ.

AAA Jack

May 24 2009

day 88: are you the teacher and do not know?

Jesus knew all men. He knew what was in man. (John 2:24-25) When a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews came to Him at night and wanted to ask Him about God, Jesus told him straight that he has to be born again before he can see the kingdom of God or understand matters about God. Jesus tried to explain to him one has to be born of the Spirit and becomes attuned to spiritual matters first. Poor teacher Nick (my short name for Nicodemus) did not know what Jesus was talking about.

So Jesus said, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?” (John 3:10)

Nick was not just an ordinary uneducated man on the street. He was one of the top national elites who ruled the religious, political and social lives of the people. He was a powerful man, well educated, well respected and was supposed to be teaching others about God. Yet Jesus said he did not know God.

Does this sound familiar? Many claim to be important in the churches but do not know God. Jesus said this of teacher Nick because he did not know or understand God in the spirit. God is Spirit. There is no other way to know Him. If anyone claims he knows all about God (through head knowledge only) the person is blind or not telling the truth. Does knowing God really matter? Jesus said, to know God and Jesus is eternal life! What is the point of being a well respected teacher in your church but do not have eternal life?

How did teacher Nick accept the “shocking” comment and teaching from Jesus? He respected Jesus and heard Him out. The Bible recorded that he spoke out for Jesus once in front of his own Pharisees peers, and later openly brought expensive spices to prepare Jesus for burial after the crucifixion.

My application:

Continue to seek God and wait upon Him, in His presence, through worship, singing hymns, reading His words (the Bible), praying, and being still before God.

Last night I attended a “waiting upon God” worship service and teaching. We worshipped for an hour. After that it was sermon time. But we were then told to lift up our hands, as a sign of total surrender to God, for the entire hour of “sermon” (waiting training). The pastor read some Bible verses and spoke a few sentences occasionally as led by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise we just waited in silence with our hands lifted up. After a long time he said we could prostrate on the floor as led by the Spirit. He told us to cast our worries and make our utmost request then. God will answer. I made a request silently about the intercession I have been making yesterday morning.

Towards the end of the session, the pastor quietly read two psalms and said that some of us will find answer and encouragement. When I heard the last two verses of the first psalm, I heard my answer. It was also confirmed by the second psalm! (He read Psalms 27 and 62)

I used to be like teacher Nick and knew nothing about spiritual matters. I did not know God the way He wanted me to know Him then. Now I begin to see and hear (despite moving with tortoise speed). I would encourage you too to seek and practice consistently. You will find that God likes to be found and He will meet you in ways that really surprise you.

I pray that you too will soon see and hear God.

AAA Jack

May 29, 2009