Chapter ninety-nine: Seeing the big picture from the miniature

It was like walking in the desert and coming across a small patch of oasis. There were only two palm trees, a well and a tiny tent enough for one traveler. When Jack first started this travel blog (in the Holy Spirit), he had no idea what he would find each step of his way. After such a long (in his own perception) walk with the Lord all these years he had reached a point where he had to have a breakthrough. He only had one road map, the Bible. He knew the answer was there somewhere.
His daily journey after stepping out in faith was increasingly focused, as he allowed the Holy Spirit to lead him. There was never one clear road map with every details but the details provided were essential and clear enough for him. He was led step by step.
A number of things emerged and confirmed to him he was walking toward the right direction in his journey of faith.
As he had recorded previously, they came in the form of visions, dreams, verses, messages, words of knowledge and words of wisdom from others, and the fresh assignments given to him.
Prior to this journey, he had been given a variety of ministerial functions, including, teaching, preaching, serving in committees, training, exhorting, encouraging, helping, shepherding small groups etc. He did not know then whether he was anointed or not for any of them.
However, during this journey in the Holy Spirit, he was clearer about his anointing for specific assignments. At first he was unsure as he found that he was assigned a variety of functions with the relevant gift/anointing for that specific occasion. The assignment (and the anointing therein) was meant for just that occasion or a few of similar ones.
What was his calling? He had often asked God. Why was he given such a variety of tasks that demanded different gifts/anointing? Why was his audience so limited (in numbers and other natural aspects)?
After taking on each assignment by faith, he gradually saw the big picture.It finally dawned on him the calling and the answer to his questions.
He was not called to stand in the office of a pastor, nor an evangelist, nor a prophet, nor a preacher, nor an Apostle. He was called to be an ‘anointed type teacher’. A teacher of anointed ‘type’ to be exact. The Holy Spirit manifested in many different gifts during the respective assignments to give demonstrations to his lessons.
His lessons were to focus on showing examples of different anointed functions. There was no requirement for him to stand in the office of any of the anointed offices.
This revelation explains why he had been exposed to so many different offices and gifts.
Knowing this calling has cleared all his doubts. He is no longer under pressure to ensure a large turn out for any class. As the Lord Jesus promised in Matt. 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
To his amazement, he was the student learning and benefiting most from the lessons where the Anointed One conducted the teaching. Indeed, the lessons carried on outside the classroom, often when he was alone worshiping or just resting in the presence of the Almighty. Even the garden has become his personal classroom.
As for why he is required to learn to teach anointed ‘type’ teaching, he is still waiting for the next instruction from his Teacher. Meanwhile, he just continues to enjoy the role of a student himself.

Chapter Ninety-eight: The Holy Spirit confirmed on the third day

On the third day after Jack first received the prompting of what to proclaim, he attended an international meeting wherein a very senior intercessor and encourager from a faraway nation was invited to preach. he was an elderly frail looking man who told the participants that he had been near death so many times and had enough dying practice so he was not afraid to die. His countenance was that of a man ready to meet His Savior in heaven, filled with the Shalom peace, the joy and hope of glory of Jesus Christ.
He opened his sermon by making a statement that he was moved by the terrible suffering mankind went through when he first started serving the Lord. All his life as a preacher he was motivated by one thing, that is, to turn the situation around. Jack was moved to tears (together with many others as those on his right and left were weeping uncontrollably!) when this elderly man spoke his mission in life. He had been a pastor for fifty years. His first statement can be summed up in the same passage describing the Lord Jesus, in Luke 4:18,
“ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;”
The speaker continued and shared the key to his ability to fulfill the assignment given to him by God. 2 Corinthians 4:9-10 “persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”
The speaker started a simple but true Gospel about the Savior Jesus. How He was crucified and died for us. How He took away our sins and curses, how He healed all our diseases.
Based on the fact that Jesus had already died for us, he gave the participants a five-fold blessings:
“I am righteous. I am holy. I am healed. I am blessed. I am a child of God.”
Jack was indeed touched to hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: the cross, the crucifixion, the salvation, deliverance and healing.
Three days ago he woke to find that he needed a great miracle within the next five months. He was led in the spirit to proclaim the passage in Luke 4:18, in his diary. He wrote, “Jesus was anointed to deliver me from the following: poor, broken-heart, under captives, blind, oppressed. I am accepted by the Father in heaven as a child of God.
It is amazing that the Holy Spirit has led him to hear this message. On that day he slept for four hours, woke at 4.00am, traveled from 5.15am to 6.30am. He had a cup of coffee, hanged around a subway and then decided to go to the meeting place, waited from 7.30am to 8.45am standing or squatting on the ground in the open. He managed to get in a side hall and looked at a screen (the source who was supposed to bring him his ticket was delayed by someone, so he could not get into the main hall). After the four hours meeting he waited for transport and reached home by the evening. By the time he went to bed it was 1o.30pm. He was sustained for over 16 hours under divine fitness and energy.
Jack has recently been prompted in his heart to share the words of God in his blogs by grouping verses that witness Jesus. The next day he was led to publish verses on the ‘blood’ of the Lamb. On the third day he rose at 4:00am after sleeping for four hours. He woke with the urgent reminder of the center focus of the Gospel, the cross. He prayed about it and then left for the meeting.
The speaker’s sharing was a confirmation that he heard the Holy Spirit message correctly, that is, in the end time Christians have one important assignment, that is, to share the Gospel.
Another wonderful thing happened at the meeting. He found a book called, “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem” and he was asked to do that lately by the Holy Spirit!

END TIMES WITNESSING: TESTIMONY OF THE BLOOD

BACKGROUND
Exodus 12:13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 1:5 He shall kill the bull before the LORD; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD FOR MANY TO ENTER THE NEW COVENANT
Jesus who had no sin, became sin for us. He shed His precious blood so that we can be redeemed and set free. (Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” )
By shedding His blood, He qualified those who believe in Him to enter the New Covenant. ( John 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.)
Jesus' blood for the New Covenant
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 27:25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Mark 14:24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Luke 22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you."
John 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. John 6:54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. John 6:56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
Blood is life
Acts 21:25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” (Genesis 9:4 "But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.") Acts 17:26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
God has purchased the church (all believers) with His blood
Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Romans 3:25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Jesus' blood cleansed us from all sins.
1 Peter 1:2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 1 Peter 1:19 [you were redeemed] but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
The Holy Communion's true meaning: The Covenant
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:27 [ Examine Yourself ] Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
Hebrews 13:20 [ Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell ] Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant
Only the Blood of Jesus could take away sins
Jesus' blood fulfilled God's complete holy requirement and replaced the blood of sacrificial animals used in the Old Testament.
Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, Hebrews 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, Hebrews 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. Hebrews 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, Hebrews 9:20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Hebrews 9:21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Hebrews 9:25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Hebrews 10:19 [ Hold Fast Your Confession ] Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 13:11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
Jesus' blood is God's witness
1 John 5:6 [ The Certainty of God’s Witness ] This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 1 John 5:8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
End Times witnessing: the blood of the Lamb
Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “ You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Revelation 7:14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelation 19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
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There is no other witnessing more powerful than the witness of the blood of Jesus, our Savior, our Lord. Those who believe will be covered under His blood. They will be able to enter the Most Holy, into the Presence of God. We all need this assurance for end times survival. The protection in Psalm 91 is ours only on this condition!

End Time Assignment to all Christians: Witnessing

The Holy Spirit gives power to witness Jesus to all nations
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Jesus gave importance to witnessing: John 8:14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. John 8:18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” John 10:25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. John 12:17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. John 15:27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Jesus is the true witness: Revelation 1:5 from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, Revelation 3:14 [ To The Lukewarm Church ] “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness,'
God (Holy Spirit) also witness: Heb. 10:15 "But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before," Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? Hebrews 10:15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

1 John 5:6 [ The Certainty of God’s Witness ] This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 1 John 5:8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 1 John 5:10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

Disciples accepted the importance of witnessing: Acts 1:22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” Acts 2:32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Acts 3:15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 10:43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” Acts 14:3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Revelation 1:2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

Paul's witnessing: Acts 22:15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. Acts 23:11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” Acts 26:16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. Acts 26:22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—

Many witnesses: 1 Tim.6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 2 Tim.2:2 "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Heb. 12:1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,"
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Peter and John: 1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 1 John 1:2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

Old Testament witnesses (the prophets):
Hosea 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.”
Isaiah 43:10 “ You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “ And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. Isaiah 43:12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the LORD, “that I am God. Isaiah 44:8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one." Isaiah 55:4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people.

Origin of witnessing: Genesis 31:44 "Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness  between you and me.”
God's words witness: Numbers 17:7 And Moses placed the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. Acts 7:44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen," (the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments referred to as the witness/testimony contained within the ark of covenant). Deuteronomy 31:26 “Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you; Deuteronomy 31:28 Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them.

Chapter Ninety-seven: "Urgent, go back to your original calling!"

He woke with time urgency on his heart. He knew time is running out fast. When he opened the Bible he was led to read Nehemiah 8-9.
Nehemiah Chapter 8 was all about Ezra the scribe reading the Book of the Law to the people (the children of Israel). The people gathered as one man in the open square in front of the Water Gate at Jerusalem. When Ezra opened the Book, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The priests and Levites also assisted by reading distinctly from the Book, gave the sense and helped the people understand the reading. All the people wept when they heard the words of the Law. (Nehemiah 8:1-9)
As Jack pondered on this powerful and touching passage, he wondered why the people responded with their whole hearts to the words of God. The answer was in Nehemiah Chapter 9, in the contents of a song sung by the singing Levites. The song narrated how God had chosen Abram (later renamed by God to Abraham) and made a covenant with him to also include his descendants (the Israelite). God remembered and kept the covenant. Despite His great mercy, deliverance and blessings upon them, the nation of Israel rebelled against God and turned to wicked ways. However, as God had promised, after seventy years of bondage in foreign land, they were again set free to return to their homeland.  God had never imposed any requirement on them except heeding His voice and carrying out His Book of the Law.
When the Book of the Law was read, the people wept. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
What sort of a man this Ezra was? When Jack read Ezra Chapter 7, he found that Ezra was thus described, "7:6 this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel".  7:11 "Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of His statutes to Israel."
Ezra was a captive just like other Israelite. But he maintained his original calling: a priest, a scribe, an expert of the words of God. He maintained his standing among his country men. He also established himself in that capacity among the foreign rulers. It was amazing how the foreign king could concede to his requests and gave him all the things he asked for. His trip back to Jerusalem was sponsored and financed by the foreign king!
What was his only goal? He just wanted to teach his people the Law of their God so that they know the true God and obey His words.
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Reading this passage, Jack recalled his first vision about Jesus. In the vision, he saw in his spirit Jesus walked towards him in a hurry on a busy road, holding something in His hand. When he came near, He handed the thing to Jack. It was a rolled up scroll. In a subsequent vision, he saw Jesus handed him a quill pen. Much later he had another vision of Jesus holding an open scroll, reading the contents to him. Often in his visions, Jesus is teaching, demonstrating, showing to him or others as in a teaching and discipleship situation.
Last Sunday's sermon reminded him the passage in Matthew 13:12 "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." Indeed, he has been given a number of gifts and one which he has often been asked to utilize is teaching gift for which he has received confirmations. He also heeded the godly advice that God does not look at the numbers of how much/many we have accomplished. But He will want to see how faithful we have been using that gift and how we have improved our skill every time we use it to edify others.
Today he examined his blogs and found that he had been too engrossed in describing his experiences in the Holy Spirit to the neglect of teaching God's words!
This wake up call confirmed his previous day's discovery (led by the Holy Spirit) of the key role given to every Christian for end time living, "witnessing" God's Word.
To be continued...

Chapter Ninety-six: more on manifestations of The Holy Spirit

As Jack continued to seek God and wait upon the Lord, he brought the class to ask for the gifts of the Holy Spirit by faith based on the following verses:
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
Galatians 3:5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—
For the first lesson on this subject, the class practiced their faith by asking the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself through His gifts as described in 1 Cor. 12:8, "for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit". The class then divided into two persons per team and took turn to practice the gifts.
The goal of the class was to edify and encourage each other to build up the body of Christ in the most holy faith. The participants were encouraged to pray in the Spirit while waiting upon the Lord to reveal His word of knowledge and word of wisdom. Where they did not receive any specific revelation in the form of Bible verses, they could follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to speak words of comfort and encouragement.
At the end of the practice of faith in action, there were some encouraging feedback. The Holy Spirit responded to their prayers and revealed His knowledge and wisdom to the encouragement and edification of the participants. Some participants were able to receive verses from each other which confirmed their specific situations.
The exercise helped the participants to experience the faithfulness of God and the reality of God's words.
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Personally, Jack has been blessed with a family who share the same zeal in seeking God and wanting to know God and His will with the heart to obey. When they gather together, they could pray and intercede together. They prayed in the Spirit and listened to the still small voice. Recently they met and prayed for a number of people (mostly family members not present) and it turned out to be a Spirit-filled meaningful session.
They took turn to name someone to be prayed for. Then they prayed in the Spirit. When the prayers in tongues stopped they took turn to report what they had seen or heard from the Holy Spirit and what they were led to pray for, or what Bible verses they saw. There were four participants. Each one saw a different mode of presentation of the same message! For example, one saw a verse, another saw a vision, yet another sang a hymn, and another received word of knowledge. When they compared notes they found that the same message was imparted to them. They continued to intercede for people in need as well. It was a wonderful time interceding as led by the same Holy Spirit in them.

Management for Christians (3): how are you managing?

How are you managing? We always ask others this way. Often, the reply is, “Just/barely managing.” A Christian will reply, “Praise the Lord, we are managing.” (Often the reply does not reveal the real situation. Managing has become a cliche.)
1. The word ‘managing’ refers to ‘living’. Managing is synonymous with living.
2. There is no other word which so boldly claims its importance in daily living. We therefore need to learn effective management in all aspects of life.
3. Management is all about living your life. How you want to live your life will affect how effective your management will be.
4. Your values impact your management of life. Do you know your values? Why do you live?
5. Management is based on the ‘why’ and then works on the ‘how’. When you know why you live, you can then work on how to live an effective life.
6. How to manage effectively? You need a management road map.
7. A Christian management road map includes the following navigation tools:  a Bible, a heart that is willing to listen to the Holy Spirit, an attitude that is open to learning.
A. Bible: you need a New Spirit Filled Life Bible -Kingdom equipping through the power of the Word (Thomas Nelson Bibles)
B. Holy Spirit: you need to pray to be filled by the Holy Spirit.
C. Open attitude: An attitude that submit totally to God and resist the devil daily.
8. Be prepared to receive revelations daily from the spiritual realm. Your road map is a living reality. A dynamic force.
9. Be adventurous as you will be required to sail into uncharted waters and break into new territories.
10. Be hopeful for a life that will not be the same once you are on course on this new management journey!

Revised February 2013: towards ‘the end of a journey’ in the Spirit

Revised 2013 February: It is always with good purpose a man ends a major episode or starts a new episode of his life with a resolution.

At the time this blog was written on May 20, 2010, the spiritual man was at a cross road not really knowing where to go next but he believed he would follow the Holy Spirit. Now that quite sometime had passed, he realizied that the Spirit of the Lord did lead him through management-God's Way, but not exactly in the way he thought he would be doing. It transpired that he did not go beyond a few episodes on this subject. The major discovery he found was God's Way is the only way. God does not need man's input in any ways at all. So he abandoned his quest to write a management manual. On the other hand, he was led through end times visions, dreams, and words in the Bible. He became a prolific blogger in the things that matter to God during the last two years. Life in the Holy Spirit means sailing onto deeper waters, living a life which hitherto was deemed impossible in the flesh.

The revelation shows how little he knew the Lord before and how far more he needs to go in his new journey to see God!____________________________________

Original Blog on May 20, 2020: Indeed, as Jack approaches the end of the series on ‘One man’s journey in the Holy Spirit’ which he intends to end by the 100th Episode, he asked the Holy Spirit what his next assignment would be. Of course, it does not mean that he will no longer be walking by the Spirit, it would only mean that he would no longer write so much about his experience in seeing visions, dreaming dreams or hearing God through His words.

He had no clue until yesterday when he was urged to write a bit about management. After he got down to writing two blogs it dawned on him that he was led by the Spirit to write about ‘Management -God’s way’ (Management by the Holy Spirit)!
There had been a number of similar occurrences lately in his own household. A close one (a medical professional) had been led by the Holy Spirit to ponder on and now teaches ‘Healing -God’s way’. Her sister (a professional mental health counselor) was led to ponder on the topic ‘Counseling -God’s way’. And now it is his turn to look at ‘Management -God’s way’. He also knows of many Christians business men doing business -God’s way. The list of practical living -God’s way is practically endless.
It is indeed a very full life living by the Holy Spirit! It is like sailing in uncharted waters, fresh, revitalizing, renewing, transforming!

Management according to Jack (part two)

What are some essential requirements for effective management? Here are some tips:
1. Effective management works on the assumption that resources are scarce and limited and valuable.
2. Effective management's success does not depend on the dead know how (systems, records, files, figures, practices). Effective management's success comes from the availability of and effective use of dynamic living things: e.g. people who manage and are being managed, and other essential resources (tangible and non-tangible: opportunities, time, money, premises, equipment, technology, creativity, relationship, distribution channels etc.) that can produce, create values and contribute to desired growth.
3. Effective management means using available and limited resources in optimum combination to produce maximized results/targets as expected.
4. A primitive man with the basic essential resources can still produce something even when he has to start from zero with no figures, no files, no records, no established system etc.
5. In a modern organization, management system is created or adopted to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of management, often with the objective of maximizing and optimizing the use of limited resources for improvement and expansion of desired results (in quantity and quality).
6. Management system changes overtime like a live creature, adapting to various forces (internal and external environment) working for survival. It therefore requires to renew and often transform, to keep up if not move ahead of its competition for scarce resources.
7. Effective management system aims to be ahead of the pack, based on the assumption that desirable resources are scarce.
8. Christian management system is different from others. The main distinction is the management manual (the words of God).
9. When Christian manager follows God's management manual, he can only succeed. This is guaranteed by the ultimate Authority Himself.
10. Effective Christian management practice requires: faith in the unseen God, supernatural belief in all His promises, knowledge of and adherence to the words of God, submission to His will and being led by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of decision making and operational execution.

Management pearls for Christians according to Jack

Background
Jack has been practicing management since 1970s. He has been through many facets of various management fields. To him, management is like a part of life and indeed encompasses many daily living aspects whether one knows it or not.
After his career as a corporate employee he has branched into training and coaching others (business owners and employees). He also did postgraduate studies in health (physical, emotional and mental) and social behavioral management. All this while, he has been active in church (organizational and spiritual) and other similar non-profit organization management counseling as well. Due to the nature of his job, he has had numerous encounters with public sector management/administration practices.
He has now sensed an increasingly urgent need to put down some of his thoughts (in bullet form) on the management of life in view of such a lot of management messes out there even for Christians. 

 Management according to Jack (part one)
1. Management is part of daily living. You can live on comfortably by managing effectively.
2. You manage effectively by identifying values, setting goals and priorities, and act on them accordingly.
3. The most important thing is to identify your values. If tomorrow is end day what would be the one thing you do today? Give top priority to do that one thing.
4. Focus your resources on doing the one thing that guarantees to bring you to your goals.
5.  Do not manage by documentation or theory. Manage by practice (e.g. act on your faith, be doers of the Word, walk by the Spirit.)
6. Manage lives (people) and not dead things (system).
7. Admit that there is no perfect plan or program or man (woman). There is only one perfect Savior (God).
8.  Build on solid foundation. Who is your foundation (your real Rock)?(Don't be like the foolish man who built on sand).
9. Use one management manual that lasts, the Word of God.
10. Be accountable (to yourself, family, human authorities, and the ultimate Authority in heaven).

Chapter ninety-five: a prophecy of ‘times’, one dream and one vision

Last night Jack pondered on the vision someone saw last weekend, of gray fishes from the sea, touched by the living fountain of Jesus, at first swimming in circle, eventually breaking out from frozen state (Luke 19:43), swimming up an ancient waterfall, breaking and shattering stone lion mouth and granite wall, into uncharted waters (the source of living waters). After worshiping interspersed with prayers while walking on a treadmill, he finally rested on the floor. He asked the Lord what the vision meant. Was it for his church or was it for other church? He asked why he was not able to hear from the Lord. Then he was reminded that he was too busy talking all the time so how could he hear? So he kept quiet for sometime. When he was about to give up he heard the prompting to read Micah 4.

But he had an urge to go out into the garden. He went and walked about in the cool night breeze under a clear sky. When he was about to go inside, he saw a patch of light so he rushed into his house, changed his glasses and took his mobile phone camera. The edge of the sky was bright like day with white rolling clouds like sea. He tried to take picture but the camera did not work. The sea of cloud moved on and left behind a clear sky.When he looked into his camera he saw spots of golden lights dancing. He took pictures and found that the photos showed only his own garden structure and not the light spots. By the time he realized he could try to video the light spots, he managed to capture some distant white light spots only.

Then he read the Bible. He quotes below what he discovered: Micah 4: 1 “BUT IN the latter days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains; and it shall be exalted above the hills, and peoples shall flow to it.” (also read Isa. 2:2)

From this verse, he was led to read Jeremiah 30:8 ^“For it will come to pass in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will break [the oppressor's] yoke from your neck, and I will burst your bonds ; and strangers will no more make slaves of”

But how did he know whether the vision was for his church? He was then led to read Daniel 10:14, “Now I have come to make you understand what is to befall your people in the latter days, for the vision is for [many] days yet to come.”

The amazing thing was that on the previous morning he was woken in a dream in which he was urged to get up and intercede, with this verse, from  Micah 4:13 “ Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; For I will make your horn iron, And I will make your hooves bronze; You shall beat in pieces many peoples; I will consecrate their gain to the LORD, And their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.” (Continue to equip the church to be house of prayers and faithful intercessor for all nations! Luke 19:46; Isa. 56:7)
 _______________________________________
Today he woke up and continued to ponder on the vision and the related verses he was led to read in Isaiah, the theme of the sign of ‘times‘. Then he received an urgent message to intercede for his kinsmen (two nephews who are currently dwelling in comfortable and happy homes in big cities of a rich country). Someone had a dream about the need to intercede for them urgently. When he looked at the Bible passage he was reading this morning, he saw a clear prophecy for the ‘time’ of the day. The full prophecy was in Isaiah 32 but he would quote the very verses that caught his spirit.

Isaiah 32:10 In a year and some days  You will be troubled, you complacent women; For the vintage will fail, The gathering will not come.
11 Tremble, you women who are at ease; Be troubled, you complacent ones; Strip yourselves, make yourselves bare, And gird sackcloth on your waists.
12 People shall mourn upon their breasts For the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. 13 On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers, Yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city;
14 Because the palaces will be forsaken, The bustling city will be deserted. The forts and towers will become lairs forever, A joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks—
_________________
But the solution for God’s peoples are there too in the following verses. These are the verses that Jack had been praying over and over in times when he was asked to pray in public. He did not know why then.
V 15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is valued as a forest.
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) will abide in the fruitful field.
17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.
18 My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.
19 But it [the wrath of the Lord] shall hail, coming down overpoweringly on the forest [the army of the Assyrians], and the capital city shall be utterly humbled and laid prostrate.

What is required of the peoples of God? The answer is as follows:

20 Happy and fortunate are you who cast your seed upon all waters [when the river overflows its banks; for the seed will sink into the mud and when the waters subside, the plant will spring up; you will find it after many days and reap an abundant harvest], you who safely send forth the ox and the donkey [to range freely].

The seeds are the words of God watered by the Holy Spirit. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Sow the Gospel of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Set the oppressed free just as Jesus had done. (Isa. 41:17-18; 44:3; Mark 16:15-18,20; Luke 4:18-19).

The vision and dream brought the urgent communication that the Bible prophecies will soon come to pass. Jack prays that his own household will not live as those who do not know or believe in the living God.

O, be the doers of His words (James 1:22). Be the men of faith (Heb. 11:6). Be the called ones who live and are led by the Spirit (Romans 8). Be focused. Focus on Jesus, the Lamb of God who is the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb.12:1-2) The just shall live by faith. (Rom.1:17; Hab. 2:4)

Chapter Ninety-Four: More on Prophetic Acts and Faith in Action

The more Jack reads about the prophetic acts carried out without fail, birthing miraculous results in the Bible, the more he is convinced that this is an important end times survival key.
The historical events and requirements agree what he has been learning, teaching and practicing with amazing results. The combination of four main ingredients are required for every prophetic act:
1. Faith
2. The word of God
3. The Holy Spirit (presence of God)
4. Praying in the Spirit
Doing prophetic acts requires supernatural mindset. Only a person who is led by the Holy Spirit (under the anointing of the Holy Spirit) can boldly carry out the assignment which may seem unnatural to those of the flesh and not of the Spirit. A believer may worry, there may not be enough Biblical prophetic acts to go around for end times. When one encounters a tough situation and runs out of prophetic acts, what then?
So Jack has been reading the Bible with this concern in mind. Having carried out one in which he was greatly edified, he too wonders where would the next one be? However, the more he reads the more he understands how amazing and limitless the Holy Spirit works. There is indeed a rich source of miraculous supplies that cover practically every aspect of life in this world in the Bible, for example, food and drink, healing and deliverance, safety and protection, health, comfort, wealth and prosperity. There are even big battles won without human efforts. Indeed, there are so many that he just does not know what to enact next with his class!
He needs not worry about not having enough prophetic acts to act on at all. What he needs to do is to continue to seek God, through worship, prayers, reading God’s words and living by the Spirit, abiding in Christ. Of these requirements, he finds that he needs to spend more effort in memorizing God’s words as well as practicing faith in action to build faith.
Worshiping God and praying in the Spirit can be done anytime. He does them in the car, in the garden, in the room, in his office, in church, and anywhere. But reading the word of God requires a place and a dedicated time. So he makes sure he has these set up in his daily life schedule. In addition, reading Bible can be done during all fillers’ time as well. Instead of reading something else or chatting on the phone or on internet, just pick up the Bible and read. When he has acquired the habit not taking lunch he uses the time to read God’s words and pray as well. It is often a rewarding time.
Practicing faith in action remains the toughest part. When he first started he had no clue. He merely carried out God’s words by faith. Later he was able to listen to the Holy Spirit more and more and his assignment becomes easy and enjoyable. He enjoys most the company of the presence of God.
It is rewarding to be a teacher of faith in action. He gets to practice what he teaches and witnesses miracles. Deep in his heart he knows he is not the real teacher. The real teacher is the Holy Spirit Himself. Otherwise, the words are mere utterances and could not cause any ripples in the deepest part of the soul.
How does he prepare for the faith in action class?
The following is based on his own experience as led by the Holy Spirit.
After reading and re-reading the lesson, he meditates on the verses. Then he spends a number of days fasting lunches to sharpen his spiritual discernment. He prays a lot in the Spirit. He prays that the Holy Spirit intercede for him and give him dreams, visions, signs and words in the Bible to guide him. Often he receives the answers.
He prays for the class. He asks that the Holy Spirit prepares them according to their needs and His plan for them.
On the day of the class, he fasts the two main meals. He maintains his spiritual alertness. Fasting and praying in the Spirit raise his faith level and enable him to receive fresh revelations and prophecies. It is truly wonderful and beneficial. He believes in the power of God’s words and had experienced the reality of them.
So it is a wonderful life even when preparing for end times.

Chapter ninety-three: An evening of Prophetic act and faith leaps!

On the evening Jack decided to carry our the prophetic act as lead by the Spirit, the sky was dark with thick clouds. It then started to pour when he was on his way driving. He had never seen such heavy rain since he attended this church. This rain was really heavy.
Prior to this event, he walked about in his own sunny garden and spraying water, praying for a cool evening for the class to carry out the prophetic act in the church compound. Towards the evening, the church technical assistant called him and told him that it looked like a ‘big’ rain was coming there. So he told the brother to prepare the water containers in the covered porch instead of the garden. On his way in the car he prayed that the rain would be delayed and that they could continue with the teaching plan as earlier decided when he was sure of the leading of the Holy Spirit.
By the time he reached his destination the heavy downpour was like torrents of mighty rivers from heaven. However his spirit was lifted up and he gave thanks and praised God for pouring down His blessings even before the class had started pouring out themselves in an act of faith to totally submit to God!
He started the teachings in the sanctuary and explained to the class what they would do and why. He read with them the Bible verses in 1 Samuel chapter 7. What they would enact by faith would be 7:6, “So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.”
Then he took the class to the front porch where they carried out the prophetic act by faith. Amazingly the rain had suddenly stopped and the garden and driveway down slope looked washed and clean. The sky was still bright and it was indeed a refreshing, cool and very uplifting evening!
As they were doing this as a learning process, he asked them to let the Holy Spirit lead them to pray as they poured themselves out before the Lord. They could confess, repent, and renounce their sins, give supplications, petition and intercessions as led. He encouraged them to pray in the Spirit after they had prayed in understanding.
The class scattered and each one carried a small container of water up and down the garden path and driveway. As each poured out the water before the Lord each prayed and interceded as led by the Holy Spirit. It was quite a sight with people standing or walking and lifting up their hands towards God, pouring out themselves, crying out, making supplications and petitions, casting down their burdens at the foot of the Lord Jesus, singing, praising and worshiping God. There was a powerful anointing and prayers were answered.
A number of edifying testimonies were given after the class. For Jack, it was a worthwhile lesson. He learned the lesson of faith in action too. During the downpour of the torrential rain, he was not dejected or depressed. He persisted with the teaching and reading of the word of God. Then he took the step of faith by leading the class outside to carry out the prophetic act determined not to look at what can be seen, i.e. the heavy rain. Instead, he kept focusing on the unseen, i.e. the spiritual realm where his prayer had already been answered.
His faith was raised to a higher level when he witnessed the event being carried out and accomplished as led by the real teacher Himself, the Holy Spirit.
He prayed that all followers of the Lord Jesus who read this would have faith to carry out these acts of faith too. You will be blessed!

Chapter ninety-two: Prophetic acts for end time survival

Jack senses in his spirit the increasing intensity of the end time and the urgent need to prepare for its arrival. So he decided to continue to write on this theme.
He has previously written a number of basic survival kits on the key – living by the Spirit (“Chapter Seventy-Six: A Watchman’s Vision of End Time Survival Kit” onward). Here is a summary: putting on the whole armor of God. Action One: Seek God diligently daily. Action Two: Read the Bible and believe every word of God by faith and act on them. Action Three: Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Practice by faith praying in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jack has discovered that living by the Spirit requires learning entirely new living principles and skill, centered on God’s word, faith and the Holy Spirit. Only a supernatural person can live and walk according to the Holy Spirit: by faith and by the word of God. He learned how God’s words filled his hunger during fasting. Fasting sharpens his spiritual discernment.
A supernatural Christian seeks God constantly. Seeking God means meeting Him, seeing His glory, worshiping Him, being in awe of Him. It also includes seeking to hear God and obey Him (in practice). When he obeyed the still small voice he encountered wonderful experiences in his garden.
Lately he has been pondering on the spiritual weapon in the form of prophetic actions by faith. He has always wondered why the prophets and men of God carried out certain symbolic action. What mattered was that the actions by faith resulted great success.
During intercessions he was led to do certain simple symbolic acts based on the word of God too. He did not know the outcome of some intercessions, but some he knew. They worked. He was encouraged and knew that he was on the right path in submitting to the Lord’s promptings.
These are a few of the symbolic acts that he has done by faith: the Jericho March, the washing of feet (like what Jesus did for His disciples), the pouring of water on the ground (to signify the pouring of the Holy Spirit on thirsty land), the proclamation of the pouring of the Holy Spirit (in the form of wind), the opening of heaven in an oppressive night when he was hindered in his prayers, reading and proclaiming God’s words, taking the Holy Communion, applying the blood of the Lamb on his door posts (symbolically), using the anointing oil, singing hymns, praises and spiritual songs, raising his hands to bless prophetically, raising his hands to submit to God’s presence, praying in the Spirit (for warfare intercessions) and many more.
He believes these acts of faith are essential for spiritual training. Today while driving, the verse on the symbolic act done by the Israelite in 1 Samuel 7:6 about how the people gathered at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord came to him.  He pondered over it and thought he could enact it with his class on the next day.
However, after he has spent the whole afternoon reading the event and its history, he wondered whether it would be appropriate to do so. He could foresee the immediate difficulties:
1. They need a Samuel, a man who hears God and is heard by God.
2. The people who take part need to be representative of the corporate body of Christ there.
3. They need to be aware of and fully repentant of their sins and are willing to confess and renounce before God.
4. They need to fast on the day of enactment.
5. The goal of the act of faith must be agreed upon.
On the other hand, he noted that this act of faith before the Lord was indeed powerful in overcoming the enemy. After the children of Israel had done it, Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel and the Lord answered him. (1 Sam. 7:9)
“Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.” (1 Sam. 7:10)
“So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. (1 Sam. 7:13)
(Reading: 1 Samuel 7: 1-17)

Chapter ninety-one: Is seeing visions a choice?

Someone asked Jack to share about his latest visions. Jack considers that it is time to clarify before anyone gets a wrong impression. The following is based on his own limited experience.
Seeing visions is not a choice. He cannot see visions or dream dreams as and when he wants to. He cannot choose to see what visions he prefers. For example, he cannot see into his own wife’s secrets. Only once he was shown a vision about spiritual events concerning her and he was required to intercede urgently for her then. After that incident, there was no more visions about her. However, he did see some visions for her relatives and was required to intercede for them.
He was never revealed any personal secrets about anyone through seeing visions. The visions he saw have to do with God’s kingdom for God’s own purpose. For example, he saw people in need being attacked by beasts of various kinds and he knew then he had to intercede for them. He saw people being hindered in the ministry by things and so he interceded accordingly.
The visions were always about how to advance the kingdom of God, claiming the more abundant life as promised by Christ Jesus who had conquered sin, death, darkness, curses and sicknesses on the cross. They were based on the promises based on the words of God as revealed in the Bible.
When he saw someone seemingly lost or unaware with a beast nearby he knew he had to intercede immediately.
Sometimes he saw good things too and he would be prompted to pass the good news to the persons involved.
He also saw visions or dream dreams after he had prayed on specific issues he needed guidance. As recorded before, the visions can be in the form of pictures, words, or signs. Lately he had started teaching a class with the purpose to disciple those whom the Lord Jesus had called. While he did not know any of the students well, he did not ask the Lord to show him whether there were potential disciples for the ministry team in the church he currently attends. In his heart he was sort of hoping to find one or two potential candidates but it was not his immediate concern. However, soon after the class commenced, the Lord gave him one vision and two dreams. In one case he got the same message twice in two consecutive dreams (in which the name of the person and the face of the person was revealed. He was even holding a Bible reading and ministering to someone! This was the last thing Jack would have expected).
He also received signs when he was led by the Spirit to intercede. For example, one recent evening he was led to intercede for Jerusalem. He did not know which nation he was praying for until the word “Jerusalem” actually came out of his mouth after praying in the Spirit for sometime. Before he ended his intercessions he did a symbolic act by watering his garden, proclaiming that God will pour His Spirit on the land of Jerusalem (Israel) to quench the thirst and flood the dry ground. He was using the actual words “Pour Your Spirit”, “water”, “flood”, “thirsty”, “dry ground” etc.
The next day when he read through some passages from the Book of Isaiah, he was pleasantly surprised to find that he was indeed quoting Isiah’s prophesy regarding God’s promise to pour His Spirit on Israel, in Isaiah 44:3, “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring;”
This was a passage he was not familiar with in the first place. He knew it was not him who purposed and initiated that act of faith in the garden on the previous night.
Is it easy to hear God or see visions? Jack cannot answer this question. But he has found that God responds almost instantly many times. His own mind was not fast enough to catch the answers at times. This confirms what the Holy Spirit has promised in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
To him, seeing visions is just a way to receive certain communication. As he was at times unsure of what to do with the visions, he would wait for sometime until he received clear Bible verses as confirmation before he took action. Staying close to God through daily worship, reading God’s words and prayers would ensure that he hears God more clearly and not be presumptuous. Visions cannot prove anything about your relationship with God. Being in the presence of God is itself the best experience ever.

chapter ninety: An evening in the garden and God waved back

During a night of power failure, Jack diligently carried out his assignment. On this warm evening Jack encountered a sudden power failure. He had his daily main meal without hurry after a day of fasting (taking water only). The day was event less and he was feeling a bit disappointed. It was a windless evening. The garden was very still and stifling.


After dinner, he had a shower and changed into comfortable sports wear. Then he was led to go into the garden. He realized that there was nothing to do but to pray and intercede. He walked about and started praying in the Spirit. The sky looked still and nothing seemed to happen. He continued to pray and sing in tongues.
Then he was led to sing about the Holy Spirit wind. True enough the trees in his garden started to move their branches. He could feel the breeze moving quietly around him. He continued to praise God and give thanks for the Holy Spirit wind. He noted that only the trees in his garden moved. The ones outside remained still. He felt elated and burst into the powerful classic hymn “How Great Thou are!” (Two weeks ago he witnessed a demonized man fled as if in trance when he merely heard the chorus of this hymn!)

Interestingly the wind came to where he stood and surrounded his whole being. As he walked the wind continued to move forward toward the same direction. He decided to walk round his garden and the wind moved ahead as if to lead his steps. So he interceded following the steps of the Holy Spirit.

He did not know the object of his intercession so he decided to pray in understanding. “O Lord, pour Your Spirit over this land, this…” When he came to the name of the land, instead of saying the nation he had in mind, he suddenly cried, “Jerusalem”.
He obeyed and spent the whole time interceding for Jerusalem (partly from Isaiah 32:15-19; 58:6-12, and recalling from Nehemiah), that the Holy Spirit would pour on that land and cause a transformation in line with the heart of God, rebuilding the walls and gates for the City of God.

After that, he watered the garden as a symbolic act of the living water that would flood Jerusalem and fill those who hunger and thirst.

He knew when he had completed his task. The intercession in the Spirit stopped. But he was enjoying the garden walk with the presence of God so much that he wanted to walk another round. So he told God that he really appreciated and felt very honored. He requested that he be allowed another round in the garden just to be with God and not busily interceding. Then he walked by faith. When he finally stopped he lifted up his hands and waved. To his amazement, he saw his two red sealing wax palm trees waving (while all the other trees remained still). There was a gap of clear blue heaven between the two trees.

He believed it was God waving to him and saying goodbye after the evening walk. He waved back with a big grin and the trees stopped after that.

He went back to his house and read this line from Isaiah 2:5, “O, house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

The power immediately came on and the house was flooded with light!

chapter eighty-nine: when a watchman dreamed end time horror movies

It is not often that Jack remembers what he dreams. He dreams a lot and he knows he is dreaming. Often he tells himself that he must remember this dream because it is very interesting and may be meaningful, but when he gets up he forgets everything about the dream! He was often consoled that that meant that dream was not that important or the Holy Spirit would make him recall it vividly.

Recently he dreamed of another end time dream. It was so sad and horrible. He woke in cold sweat and rushed downstairs to his prayer table as he could sense the urgency in his spirit to intercede for lost souls. In fact, lately he had not been thinking of end time but the dream suddenly appeared.
It was like any ordinary outing he went with his wife. They were in an ordinary tourist camp. The people were ordinary people like them and the camp was an average site with no particular attractions. People (all strangers to Jack) went there just for a break from their daily routine. One middle age man (in his fifties?) was not feeling well and was taken to a ‘sick bay’. Then Jack decided to go and see how he was.
He went to where the man was confined and found that it was a secluded cement building like a slaughter house. He peeped inside and found a lot of cement tables on which men were being bound and tortured. That tourist man was there on one of the tables. He was being tortured and crying out in despair. The torturers were like slaughter men and were watching their victims without expressions, like they were just doing their routine job.
The poor tourist repeatedly screamed out these words, “Why has this happened to me? How come I ended up this way? How can this be?” It seemed he could not believe that he, an innocent man, could ever end up in a torture chamber. He could not find in his heart that he ever deserved such cruel fate. He was crying out at the injustice.
Jack knew then he was in the enemy camp and could be in danger too so he quickly found his wife and the two escaped through an open window.
Then he woke.
Reading the daily news has become like watching end time horror movies. People everywhere in the world were being slaughtered en mass. Human lives have become cheap and fragile like those of flies. He has become so used to them that his heart feels numb. It seems like the heart has learned to grow layers of onion skins to shield itself from hurt.
However, the dream was a wake up call. He knew that even the innocent was not spared. He remembered a warning by someone, “Have not the little ones in our family been attacked enough?” (So how can Jack continue to choose to be a bystander?)
There is really no option for any Christian. Every committed follower of Christ has one mission, that is, to do the work that Christ Jesus had done on earth and even greater works than His. It was a command from the Lord Himself.
What is the watchman’s mission? To keep watch, to look out, peer into the distance, to scope something out, to see approaching danger and warn those endangered.
So the watchman has decided to obey the wake-up call. He will continue to keep watch and warn. Sometimes he does wonder whether anyone ever listens to all these cries. But his job is to see and tells. He is just a watchman looking from the tower in the city wall.