The past week has been a remarkable intensive spiritual training period for Jack. He attended an advance watchmen (intercessors) conference. His original goal was to know how to prepare his family for end time as this theme has been on his mind more frequently. Whilst he has read the brochure, he was not even aware that it was meant for advance intercessors and watchmen.
He has participated similar courses before and has learned useful lessons from them. In fact, his life was changed after those lessons. However this time he was preoccupied by the signs of end time and how he could make sure the little ones in his extended family can be persuaded to live a godly life and Spirit-filled life. He prayed that the heavenly Father (God) will reveal to him how to hear God more, how to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and show him what God has promised through the prophet Isaiah (Isa.45:11): Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: 'Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; and concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.'
The course ran daily from morning 9am to the next morning 1am. After that there was overnight prayer meeting until 5am. They were given short breaks for breakfast, showers and dinner. They skipped lunch. Those who followed the regiment strictly had about 7 hours daily for travel (to and fro the hotel and the conference venue), food, showers and sleep in total.
Jack was physically worn out the first day. He had spent the bulk of the day traveling (including driving). When he finally found the hotel it was late afternoon. He had a quick shower and decided to go to the conference venue by shuttle bus. On arrival he had to spend another two hours waiting in the stuffy hall without air-conditioning. To his horror, a lady with considerable size decided to sit in front of him, blocking his vision and leaving no room for his legs to stretch forth for five solid hours!
By the time he returned to the hotel room he was tired beyond words. He managed a quick shower and went to bed after 2am. He had five hours' sleep and rushed for breakfast (to sustain him until dinner) which was only available for a limited time. After that he caught the shuttle bus to the conference hall.
That second morning he chose a seat in front to have clear view of the speakers and the screen. But he was sleepy and tired and had a hard time keeping his eyes open at times. By the end of the second afternoon, Jack decided to skip the night session as he was exhausted. So he took the shuttle bus back to the hotel after dinner and thought he could have a good long sleep. However, as he was puzzling over a vision he saw earlier during the morning worship about one of the speakers, he communicated with his unofficial 'spiritual adviser' back home. She prayed in the Spirit and received the instruction that he had to intercede immediately for the speaker for whom he saw an adverse vision. He realized the seriousness of the matter and interceded until he received clear confirmation from the Holy Spirit (through the Bible, Psalm 103) that the matter was resolved. He fell flat on the bed and slept soundly after that!
The third day he continued sitting in front during the day. At dinner, he heard that they were going to do the marching again (as they did the previous two nights) that night. One of the speakers also told them that pieces of red clothes will be anointed so they could all walk under the cloth claiming the benefits of the Covenant for which Jesus had shed His precious blood. It was a symbolic act of course. By then he was tired and felt that he could do without the marching so he decided to go back to the hotel like the previous night for a good long sleep.
However, his 'spiritual adviser' contacted him and asked about the previous night's intercession. So he told her how he prayed until he received the confirmation in Psalm 103, and how this was confirmed the next morning when that speaker ended her lesson by quoting this psalm and even requiring them to proclaim this psalm at midnight that night under the starry sky!
When he asked the adviser whether he should attend that night's session and told her that he did not like 'warfare' (even when it is spiritual), she prayed and said that he should, at least show respect to the speakers. She told him that he had to go because this is part of his training as an intercessor. "This is the last days, every child of God MUST be trained in spiritual warfare (she messaged through her mobile), it is NOT an optional topic BUT a compulsory and core subject. So you must LEARN all you can! If each of us tries to avoid warfare, who is going to stand in the gap for the little ones in our family? Have they not been attacked enough?"
She further messaged, "When God asks us to do things that do not make sense, we better obey. It was how God brought down the walls of Jericho. His ways are not our ways." She further admonished, "Just now Holy Spirit gave me this phrase specifically for you, 'Obedience is better than sacrifice'. "
She then messaged the following addressing his reluctance. "You are already covered by the blood of the LAMB. No evil can harm you. I have never heard of God losing any of His prayer warriors during training. We are called to be the most powerful army (spiritual). So relax! No intercessors have ever lost because our prayers release the power of the Holy Spirit, so how can God lose to His creation, the devil?"
"The battle belongs to the Lord. We only stand in the gap and call forth His intervention. Being an intercessor is one of the easiest calling. We just pray and God will do the rest. The victory is 100%! "
"Am praying for you. Just relax and watch what God can do when we are at rest. He is indeed an awesome God. The biggest warfare is in your mind. There may be more than one negative thoughts there. Speak this loud 7 times to the air around you, personalize it: 1 John 4:4, 'You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world'."
After reading all these, Jack obeyed God. He knelt down and took Holy Communion, confessed all his sins (including pride and unbelief) and was assured that he has been forgiven and empowered. He went through that night's conference sessions without feeling worn out or exhausted. At 3am he felt fresh and well while waiting for the shuttle bus to take him back to the hotel.
Although he only managed to sleep for about four hours, he went through another day's training without falling asleep. That morning, they sang the song, "The battle belongs to the Lord", again confirming the spiritual adviser's message to him on the previous night! Jack managed to write down the following excerpts of the song, "In heavenly armor we enter the land, the battle belongs to the Lord. The watchmen on the tower are interceding for the land and the saints proclaim the victory of the Lord. And we sing glory, honor, power and strength to the Lord."
At the end of the course, Jack managed to drive another three and half hours in the evening to his next destination. He felt refresh and filled with a new sense of purpose and reality of his journey in the Holy Spirit.
There was another amazing incident. On that same morning, he saw a bit of clouds in the sky and decided to give thanks for the weather (even though he was told that the conference venue had had hot and dry weather for a long time). He even carried an umbrella into the conference hall. He must have looked ridiculous. (However, it turned out to be a prophetic act). At the end of the conference he was disappointed to find that it did not rain as he expected. But he continued to hold on to that umbrella to meal (late lunch at 3.30pm). After meal he drove to his next destination.
It was still bright and sunny and other drivers were all wearing dark sun glasses. He resisted the temptation to put on his. As he drove, he saw the sky gathering clouds. Only after he had driven two third of his journey, a bit of rain drops fell. By the time he almost reached his destination he saw the rain but it did not hinder visibility although by then he had to drive on narrow country lane in the dark. But the road was wet and he could see pools of water by the road side. On arrival, he was told that after a hot and dry spell, heavy rain suddenly poured for about fifteen minutes just before he arrived and stopped upon his arrival. The air became cool and clean. It was a lovely evening for all. It was as though the whole atmosphere had been washed and liberated by the Holy Spirit!
Indeed, God has been faithful and answered the prayers of his children.
What a remarkable experience in the Spirit!
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