October 31, 2012

For as in the days before the flood -seeing the unseen

  1. Genesis 7:1
    [ The Great Flood ] Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.
    Genesis 7:1-3 (in Context) Genesis 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  2. Genesis 7:7
    So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood.
    Genesis 7:6-8 (in Context) Genesis 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  3. Genesis 7:10
    And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth.
    Genesis 7:9-11 (in Context) Genesis 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  4. Genesis 7:17
    Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.
    Genesis 7:16-18 (in Context) Genesis 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  5. Genesis 9:11
    Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
    Genesis 9:10-12 (in Context) Genesis 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  6. Genesis 9:15
    and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
    Genesis 9:14-16 (in Context) Genesis 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  7. Genesis 9:28
    And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
    Genesis 9:27-29 (in Context) Genesis 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  8. Genesis 10:1
    [ Nations Descended from Noah ] Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.
    Genesis 10:1-3 (in Context) Genesis 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  9. Genesis 10:32
    These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.
    Genesis 10:31-32 (in Context) Genesis 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  10. Genesis 11:10
    [ Shem’s Descendants ] This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood.
    Genesis 11:9-11 (in Context) Genesis 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  11. Job 22:16
    Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?
    Job 22:15-17 (in Context) Job 22 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  12. Job 27:20
    Terrors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away in the night.
    Job 27:19-21 (in Context) Job 27 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  13. Psalm 29:10
    The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, And the LORD sits as King forever.
    Psalm 29:9-11 (in Context) Psalm 29 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  14. Psalm 32:6
    For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him.
    Psalm 32:5-7 (in Context) Psalm 32 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  15. Psalm 74:15
    You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers.
    Psalm 74:14-16 (in Context) Psalm 74 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  16. Psalm 90:5
    You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
    Psalm 90:4-6 (in Context) Psalm 90 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  17. Isaiah 28:2
    Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, Like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, Like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand.
    Isaiah 28:1-3 (in Context) Isaiah 28 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  18. Isaiah 59:19
    So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.
    Isaiah 59:18-20 (in Context) Isaiah 59 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  19. Jeremiah 46:7
    “Who is this coming up like a flood, Whose waters move like the rivers?
    Jeremiah 46:6-8 (in Context) Jeremiah 46 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  20. Jeremiah 46:8
    Egypt rises up like a flood, And its waters move like the rivers; And he says, ‘I will go up and cover the earth, I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.’
    Jeremiah 46:7-9 (in Context) Jeremiah 46 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  21. Jeremiah 47:2
    Thus says the LORD: “Behold, waters rise out of the north, And shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.
    Jeremiah 47:1-3 (in Context) Jeremiah 47 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  22. Daniel 9:26
    “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
    Daniel 9:25-27 (in Context) Daniel 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  23. Daniel 11:22
    With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant.
    Daniel 11:21-23 (in Context) Daniel 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  24. Nahum 1:8
    But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, And darkness will pursue His enemies.
    Nahum 1:7-9 (in Context) Nahum 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  25. Matthew 24:38
    For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
    Matthew 24:37-39 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  26. Matthew 24:39
    and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
    Matthew 24:38-40 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  27. Luke 6:48
    He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
    Luke 6:47-49 (in Context) Luke 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  28. Luke 17:27
    They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
    Luke 17:26-28 (in Context) Luke 17 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  29. 1 Peter 4:4
    In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
    1 Peter 4:3-5 (in Context) 1 Peter 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  30. 2 Peter 2:5
    and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
    2 Peter 2:4-6 (in Context) 2 Peter 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  31. Revelation 12:15
    So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.
    Revelation 12:14-16 (in Context) Revelation 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
  32. Revelation 12:16
    But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
    Revelation 12:15-17 (in Context) Revelation 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

October 30, 2012

Journey to See God: Seeing God intimately

God reveals Himself in His way
Life is more interesting, never dull when one lives in the Spirit and walks by the Spirit, just as the apostles had experienced during the time of the early churches (as in the book of Acts). Without the leading of the Holy Spirit, one cannot possibly understand the Bible, the watchman has thus discovered.
The Bible is all about God. The Holy Spirit has come to show us how to see God. Reading John 7 and 8 has revealed new truth to the watchman. The truth is just there, all over the pages as he sees through the eyes of his spirit.
________________________Here is his brief note on 10-14-2012:
The Bible is all about God, revealing Himself to man, not the other way round. God takes initiative: set time, ‘when’, ‘whom he sent’, ‘for what purpose’. But man looks at ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘who is who’ all in the physical.
How does Jesus describes His focused intimate relationship, interactions and identification with God? (Just read the following list. The words ‘He’, ‘His’, ‘Him’ are used to denote God.)
‘He sent’, ‘He knows’, “in His time’, “His will’, ‘He teaches’, ‘comes from Him’, ‘His truth’, ‘learn from Him’, ‘return to Him’, ‘He speaks the truth’, ‘seek to honor Him’, ‘with Him’, ‘know who He is’, ‘belong to Him’, ‘from above’ (where God is), ‘not of the world below’ (where man is), ‘heard from Him’, ‘completely truthful’, ‘always do what please Him’, ‘do nothing on one’s own’, ‘say only what ones hears from Him’, ‘sent by Him’, ‘set sinners free’ (do His work), ‘saw what He did’, ‘tell the truth’, ‘come from God’,'consistent with God’s character’, ‘belong to God’, ‘listen gladly to the words of God’, ‘honor God’, ‘no demon in Him’, ‘no wish to glorify self’, ‘obey His teaching’, ‘know God’ and ‘obey Him’, ‘know Him and His Son’, know He is ‘I AM’.
______________________Relevant excerpts from “Spiritual Intimacy  & Communion” (from “Demands of Love” book by Susan Tang)
“The early Christians did not pick up spirits as easily as we do now because they were serious Christians who had a strong river of Spirit-life running inside them. They believed in spiritual communion and intimacy with God and spent time in serious prayer daily. They were people who knew how to drink long and deep at the Living Fountain. That was why they had no problems with demons..”
“Ministry today is dangerous because the emphasis is all on the outward _ the size of the church, the numbers, the performance, the buildings. Satan will be happy to give us these (and he can) provided he can keep us away from “The Drink”.”
http://www.station-of-life.org/demands-love.htm

SPIRITUAL INTIMACY (book by Susan Tang) 
MORE EXCERPTS: Psalm 143: 11
Quicken me O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
The word, ‘quicken’ actually means ‘to make alive.’ Many people, even Christians, lose their will to live because they cannot take the m and the pressure. When David lost the will to carry on, he screamed out to God many times, “O God, make me live!” He would not give way to suicide because he knew life came from God and it was not right for him to end it himself.
There is such power in intimacy with God. Even when David lost the will to live, he realized he could still carry on living when he allowed God to impact into him the purpose of living – to live for Him! Through intimacy with God, David knew he had a destiny to fulfill, and this gave him the strength to carry on. Yes, we can definitely derive meaning and strength to live on when we know intimacy with Father God.

———–
“The common Christian today knows everything from prophecy to anointing, from home cells to music, from miracles to visitations, from missions to running errands etc. but they simply cannot enter into intimacy with the Lord or prevail in His presence. Seeking His face is just too much for them.” [Read More]

spiritual intimacy & communion with God

October 28, 2012

Today’s sermon from the Holy Spirit: God remembers & records prayers and living right


The Holy Spirit gave a second sermon this morning: Acts of the Apostles chapter ten. When the watchman woke, he was led to read psalms 65 (all the way back to 53, plus two verses from 52 v8-9.) He received one verse specifically, 65:2 “O You who hear prayer.” This has turned out to be the message and prayer for today!

(In this journey to see God, the watchman’s study notes are in either boldness or in brackets. He also highlighted/made bold those verses/words that the Lord has required to be noted specifically in today’s message!)
Here is the summary note from the watchman:
One unusual event occurred: He printed the verses of this chapter but the printer printed one sheet of paper with the word ‘God’ repeated sixteen times!
  1. God is again the focus today. See God and see what He has taken the initiative to give to man.
  2. God works in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. Peter heard from the Holy Spirit and received instructions and obeyed. Cornelius and households and close ones received the Holy Spirit and His gift of tongues when they believed in the word about Jesus.)
  3. Those who receive from God share these qualities: They fear God. They do right living before God. They pray continually to God. They raise devout household (family, servants, relatives and close friends). They are eager to hear from God and are willing to wait in the presence of God to hear all that God has commanded! (God remembers, honors, and records these qualities.)
  4. God does the cleansing (of believer’s spirit, soul and body) and saving. God shows no partiality. God loves the ‘world’ and sent His only Son to die for the ‘world’. (John 3:16-21)

Acts 10 (the Bible verses with notes)

English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter and Cornelius (each called by God as they were praying at separate time. One saw angel, and another saw vision of things coming from heaven. Both heard and conversed with the heavenly messenger).
10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day[a] he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision (“What God has made clean, do not call common.”)

The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour[b] to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation,[c] for I have sent them.21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour,[d] and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News (The good news is all about Jesus Christ Whom God had sent to save that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.)

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles (All who heard the word and believed in Jesus received the Holy Spirit, with the gift of the Spirit poured out, and they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ!)

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Footnotes:
  1. Acts 10:3 That is, 3 p.m.
  2. Acts 10:9 That is, noon
  3. Acts 10:20 Or accompany them, making no distinction
  4. Acts 10:30 That is, 3 p.m.

October 26, 2012

Today’s Sermon from the Holy Spirit: set apart; sent off; filled with the Holy Spirit; proclaim the Word of God

The Holy Spirit gave a first message to the home church, a handful of faithful remnants (mainly families). Indeed, in the end time, the Lord takes charge of His own called ones and makes sure they receive pure heavenly food. They all received with tears-filled eyes. When there is no church and no preacher of God's word, the Holy Spirit takes over! God is awesome and merciful. His word comes to pass for those who believe!

Acts 13 (ESV)

(note: the watchman has added boldness and some of his notes in brackets)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off (set apart by the Holy Spirit after fasting and praying)

13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,[a] Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus (sent out by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the word of God, confirmed by signs and wonders)

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia

13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:
MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO FEAR GOD:
Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with[b] them in the wilderness. 19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
THE SALVATION MESSAGE: THE GOOD NEWS FROM GOD
26 Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,
“‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’
34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,
“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,
“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.
ONLY THE TRUTH OF JESUS SETS THOSE WHO BELIEVE FREE!
38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed[c] from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:
41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
be astounded and perish;
for I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”
THE WORD OF GOD SPOKEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTED AND CONVERTED THE PEOPLE (WHO FEARED GOD): THEY RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE WITH REJOICING, GLORIFYING GOD. THE WORD OF GOD SPREAD WITHOUT BOUNDARIES (GEOGRAPHICAL LIMIT, HUMAN RACES, SOCIAL OR RELIGIOUS STATUS ETC).
42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 5But the Jews[d] incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
WATCHMAN’S NOTE: WHO ARE THOSE WHO OPPOSED THE WORD OF GOD BEING PREACHED? “Elymas the magician opposed them; the Jewsincited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.”
WHY? THE MAGICIAN WANTED TO TURN THE PROCONSUL AWAY FROM THE FAITH; THE JEWS “were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.” WHO ARE THE ENEMIES OF GOD? MEN PRACTICING THE OCCULT (MAGIC, SORCERY, WITCHCRAFT, IDOL WORSHIP) ARE CONTROLLED BY EVIL SPIRITS AND OPPOSE THE GOSPEL NATURALLY. MEN FILLED WITH JEALOUSY ARE THE SAME AS THOSE PRACTICING THESE (READ THE LIST BELOW)!

Galatians 5:19-21 (list of enemies of God)

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Footnotes: Galatians 5:21 Some manuscripts add murder
ACTS 13 Footnotes:
  1. Acts 13:1 Niger is a Latin word meaning black, or dark
  2. Acts 13:18 Some manuscripts he carried (compare Deuteronomy 1:31)
  3. Acts 13:39 Greek justified; twice in this verse
  4. Acts 13:50 Greek Ioudaioiprobably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time

    Mark 16:15-18; 20 (ESV) 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

October 17, 2012

The end times book -the Power of God's Word in Healing

End Times Book for Divine Living: “The power of God’s Word in Healing” is a gem for all who seek to live the abundant life as a son of God, that Jesus (the Son of God Himself) has promised.
The watchman was urged to read one testimony in this book during a prolonged struggle with back pain in which the watchman was unable to lie down and once lied down he was unable to get up. The pain came only when he tried to lie down or get up. He dreaded to sleep despite his tiredness. Once he manged to lie down and sleep he dreaded rising the following morning! It was a torment. He shared this with someone and she asked him to read one of the live testimonies in this book. He read obediently.
He read the detailed testimony of a man who had a terrible motor accident on 24th January 2011, in which he broke four broken bones: two ribs, his right shoulder blade and the humerus bone at the top part of his right arm. The man did not go for operation. Instead he relied on the word of God to heal him. He was completely healed of his external and internal injuries. The watchman had seen him personally a few days after his accident in the church and also after he was completely well. This time when he himself was in severe pain, he was urged to read this book again.
He read of how the man received word from the Lord and believed. He was healed accordingly, just the lord has promised in Psalm 107:20 “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
When the watchman read one verse, “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones” (Ephesians 5:30), he knew the verse was sent for him. so he received and proclaimed this verse by faith over his own flesh and bone. He then went to sleep. He got up feeling significantly better. For the first time in about ten days he could rise up without having to struggle in bed for about an hour! After he repeated this action of faith for a few times, he woke one day and found that he was completely healed!
Today someone again asked him to read all the testimonies again carefully. He believes this message is from the Lord. More and more people he knows are suffering all sorts of symptoms (many of which could not be traced to any identifiable diseases). A brethren in Christ suffers from exactly the same unusual pain at the same spot and the pain moves in the same direction as another brethren suffers. The two persons are in two entirely different professions and have very different lifestyle. It is not an occupational or lifestyle disease! In both cases, the use of the word of God relieves and heals.
___________________Here are some excerps from the book:
From the back cover:  He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Psalm 107:20)
If only God’s people knew the power of God’s word. How differently they would live.
By His word, God created the heavens (Psalm 33:6); by the word of His power, Yeshua upholds all things (Heb 1:3). The word of God is life and spirit (John 6:63) and it is truth that sets us free and sanctifies us (John 8:32;17:17). The word of God is quick, powerful and sharp (Heb 4:12). It has the power to transform lives.
__________From Chapter One- The power of the word provided:
Real power is in the word of God.
Matthew 8:5-10 (NKJV) Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
The centurion just believed in Yeshua (Jesus) speaking a word and his servant was healed that same hour. What happened when the centurion chose to believe that there was power in just a word from Yeshua? He experienced the miracle of God for the healing of his servant.
—————————————————–As He (Jesus) taught, a man with an unclean spirit manifested. Just listening to Yeshua caused the enemy to tremble. Yeshua cast out the spirit and the man was set free.
Who was Yeshua that spoke with such authority that even unclean spirits obeyed Him?
Yeshua, the Son of God is also called the Word of God. The Word of God is God. (John 1:1, 14; Rev 19:13)
He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Psalm 107:20)
I believe that God is saying that He sent His Son Who is the Word of God to heal and to deliver. The only way to God’s healing is through the Son… God’s way of healing is always perfect and the best. Only He can bring real and complete healing to people and to nations through his spoken and written word, by the Spirit.
Only God can heal the total man.
Why is there no complete healing apart from the cross and the word of God? Firstly, the world’s healing is focused only on the physical realm, that is, only on the body. But the healing from God is complete because it deals with the total man. Man is made up more than the body. He is body, soul and spirit.
—————————–Excerpts from testimonies in this book:
“The Spoken Word of God Brings Healing” (by sister Faith)
I lay in a pool of blood with my arm broken. One end of the broken bone, about two inches long, stuck out from the bend in my left elbow. I didn’t scream or cry as I found comfort and peace in the Lord.
When my husband returned home he asked me what I wanted done.
I said, ‘Yes, I want to be in the church.’..as I insisted..he reluctantly brought me there. During the drive…a passage from Ezekiel 37 kept coming to my mind,speaking to me afresh. It was about how dry bones lived. But I told the Lord, “My bone is not dry; it is alive.” I just kept claiming the word of God for my condition. Ezekiel had commanded the bones to join back and the Lord had revived them into a great army.
I had had awesome encounters with God’s healing power before, which was why I decided not to go to the hospital. It was not about how big or small my faith was; it was about believing the word of God could bring healing, including joining broken bones.
Thus, when my arm broke on 20th February 2010, I simply surrendered  my life to Him (Yeshua). I felt so secure in Him.
She (Pastor) told me to tell the enemy that in spite of my condition I would still lift up my hands and worship God. I did just that.
AS Pastor prayed and commanded the protruding bone to go back into my arm, it went back in an an inch! We saw the miracle taking place before our very own eyes. My own family was there to witness the whole process.
Later, Pastor asked me to pray and command the snapped bones to align and connect again. She reminded me that God had in His word given us the authority even to speak to bones.
I continued to command my bones to heal, basing my faith in the word of God, and its power to heal. On 2 March 2010, the bone went in completely. No more did any bone stick out from my flesh.
Between 16-29 September 2010, another amazing thing happened. A small fragment of bone came out of the bend of my elbow little by little and eventually, on 28 September, it dropped off and the next day, the hole completely closed.
I was practically pain-free from the time of my fall…till the day the bone went in completely and the hole in my flesh closed.
I believed that Yeshua had already paid the price for our sin and taken our pain at Calvary, we can defeat pain today without taking any painkiller.
It was also incredible that I had an open wound all that time and never suffered any infection. Through out the entire experience, I did not use any sling, cotton gauze or bandage. I did not go for therapy or do arm exercise.
As the word of God in Isaiah 53:4-5 states:
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
The Lord Yeshua did more than heal my physical body, He also restored my marriage.
All the miracles that we encountered transformed our lives, our walk with God and was made possible only by the power of His word and His promises in the Holy Bible.

October 16, 2012

Be spiritual -overcome your unbelief

A note written on 2-27-2012 to someone who asked a very relevant question. Indeed today the question still lingers in a lot of Christians' mind...(with telling signs in their daily lives) So, here is the post to all. Don't give up. You are loved (by the Father in heaven, to Whom you must cling).

_______________________the letter
Dear sister (name):
This is my post on 24/6/2010. It is relevant to your question on how to overcome unbelief.
The key is to be sons of God, be overcomer like the Son of God Jesus Himself, who is focused on the spiritual reality and not allow the flesh to take dominion over the spirit man.
How to practice being spiritual? it takes a lot of time, persistence and patience waiting before God, like (names of persons who spend time before God)etc. Brother (name)'s sermon yesterday is on the same subject: imitate God and imitate those more spiritually mature (in faith).
The word of God is the presence of God (light, life, Spirit).
Many do not feed themselves enough of word and thus become weaker and weaker in faith and are swayed by the unbelief in their surrounding (people and events ruled by the enemy) in times of trials.
Brother in Christ.
_________________originally posted on 24/6/2010
There is no short cut to survive end times. You just need to be spiritual in the Biblical sense. Be a Supernatural Spiritual Christian!


Be Spiritual !
John 9:35 [ Spiritual Blindness ] Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
Romans 1:11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—
Romans 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
Romans 12:1 [ Living Sacrifices ] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Romans 15:27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
Spiritual Wisdom is Required of Believers
1 Corinthians 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:
1 Corinthians 3:1 [ On Divisions in the Church ] Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?
Galatians 6:1 [ Doing Good to All ] Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Partake spiritual food and drink
1 Corinthians 10:3 They all ate the same spiritual food
1 Corinthians 10:4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
Given spiritual gifts
1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
1 Corinthians 12:1 [ Spiritual Gifts ] Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
1 Corinthians 14:1 [ Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues ] Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
Spiritual body for eternal life
1 Corinthians 15:44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.If there is a natural body, there is also a Spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.
Sing spiritual songs
Ephesians 1:3 [ Spiritual Blessings in Christ ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Fight Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Build Spiritual House
1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

_______________October notes:
Only by being spiritual you can live a victorious life. God is Spirit. Jesus is Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Spirit.
Sons of God are required to be led by the Spirit. Jesus Himself stated, flesh profits nothing. The words He has spoken are spirit and life. Unless one is born again of the Spirit of God, one cannot see and enter the kingdom of God. A victorious Christian life is a life in the kingdom of God, living before God, walking in the Spirit and effectively using the spiritual authority of Jesus, the Son of God to overcome the wordl and the stresses (attacks) therein.

October 15, 2012

Journey to see God: a self-test to check on your God-reality

The watchman discovered that, the first pertinent question a believer in God must ask is, "Is my God real?"
If you cannot get pass this question with a straight unhesitating affirmative answer without any qualification, there is no need for you to go further on this journey to see God.
God is God. He is not just anyone we can simply treat according to our mood or feeling or thought.
When you believe your God is real, you will need to ask the next question:
"How am I treating Him and His word?"
If your attitude is sometimes you believe He exists, but sometimes you do not, some words you believe as truth, while others you do not believe as truth, then your God is still not real to you.

Take one minute or five minutes (for those who cannot stop describing God) and do this test yourself: 

The rules: without repetition or hesitation.  
The act: describe Who God is to you.
First review: check the quantity (how much or how little) you have written down or spoken about the God you know.
Second review: see the description's quality. Are you describing a lot of self-centered stuff or are you describing God-centered qualities?

After you have discovered how little and how poorly your God is to you, the next step: confess and repent and take actions to set aside more time to know God, through coming into His presence daily, reading His word, praying and talking to Him, listening to Him talking to you.

Learn from KING DAVID, A MAN AFTER GOD'S HEART
Psalm 42:2 (NKJV)
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
 Psalm 63:1 (NKJV) Joy in the Fellowship of God 
A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
63 O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
 Psalm 143:6 (NKJV)
I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

For those who have not run out words (in quantity and quality) to describe God, you would want to take a further step of faith, climbing up further on your God's mountain. Moses was asked to climb higher and higher to meet with God Who was ready to reveal to him more and more of Himself!

THE LORD ACTUALLY ASKS FOR MORE!
Song of Solomon 4:8 (NKJV)
Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse,
With me from Lebanon.
Look from the top of Amana,
From the top of Senir and Hermon,
From the lions’ dens,
From the mountains of the leopards. 

God Himself can teach us how to drink from Him, how to pray and how to commune with Him. Jesus has also affirmed this truth!
 Isaiah 55:1 (NKJV) An Invitation to Abundant Life
55 Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;

And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
  
John 7:37-38 (NKJV) The Promise of the Holy Spirit
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

God wants us be real with His reality in our lives. There is no option. 
A word of warning from Jesus to the worldly non-committed church:
Revelation 3:15-16 (NKJV)
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,[a] I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Footnotes:
  1. Revelation 3:16 NU-Text and M-Text read hot nor cold.

October 14, 2012

Journey to see God: know the covenant God

The watchman’s journey to see God continues. Today’s message is for all who earnestly seek God. God hears and answers your prayers. Do not give up!
This morning the watchman woke around 4am. For today’s message, he was asked to read Joshua 7. He realized it was not a pleasant message but he obeyed. Indeed it was about how Israel was defeated at Ai after a resounding victory at Jericho. But as he read he understood the reason for this message today.
  1. The Lord is a covenant keeping God.
  2. He wants His people to keep His covenant.
  3. He wants His people to know He is holy and sets apart. His people must know Him in Spirit and in Truth. Only by fully obeying His divine instructions and setting themselves apart from the world and its way then they would be able to know and worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
  4. He shows that when they break covenant with Him they would have no protection from Him, because He would withdraw His presence. They would be no match to their enemies in the spiritual realm no matter how strong they think they are and how weak their enemy seems in the physical realm. They have become “doomed to destruction” (Joshua 7:12).
For Christians, in practical terms, this means:
(A) There are two things to do (as faith in action) before the Lord to keep covenant:
  1. build altar and give sacrifices (ministering to the Lord: in prayers, worship in Spirit and in truth -His words)
  2. read and listen to the word of God (being spoken, read, proclaimed, prayed)
(B) There are two things (the things that break covenant) to avoid doing:
  1. do not hang on to things that the Lord has set apart to destroy (as an offering to the Lord).
  2. do not take the things that the Lord has set apart for His treasury (do not even put them among your own personal belongings! To the Lord that is deliberate hiding). The Lord described this ‘crime’ in Joshua 7:11 “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.”
  1. The Result of disobedience to the divine instructions of God: 1. the culprit will be completely destroyed (in this case the person Achan, his family and all his belongings).
    2. he will also bring trouble and curse to his nation (36 soldiers from the camp of Israel were killed by the enemy from Ai, which was physically weaker than Israel. The Israelite had 30000 mighty men of valor whereas the entire population of the city of Ai was only 12000! )
RELEVANT VERSE FROM THE WORD OF GOD
(The watchman’s study notes are in brackets, using NKJV verses to illustrate)
The Bible version New Living Translation (NLT) is used here (as led by the Holy Spirit today)
Joshua 6:17-19 Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed[a] as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies. 18 “Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel. 19 Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury.”
Footnotes: a. Joshua 6:17 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; similarly in 6:18, 21.
(The divine instruction is clear and specific: on this occasion, the Lord specified a curse and a consecration (a) Curse: the city of Jericho, except for Rehab and all who are with her in her house, be doomed for destruction, it and all who are in it. (Joshua 6:17a) (b) Consecration: all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord. (Joshua 6:19))
Joshua 6:21 They completely destroyed everything in it with their swords—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys. Joshua 6:24 Then the Israelites burned the town and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the Lord’s house.
Joshua 7:1 Ai Defeats the Israelites 7 But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord.[a] A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri[b] son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.
Footnotes:
  1. Joshua 7:1 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; similarly in 7:11, 12, 13, 15.
  2. Joshua 7:1 As in parallel text at 1 Chr 2:6; Hebrew reads Zabdi. Also in 7:17, 18.
(The divine instruction demands 100% compliance: partial compliance is of no effect in the spiritual realm. See the terrible result as follows.)
Joshua 7:4-5 So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai 5 chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries,[a] and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.
Footnotes:
  1. Joshua 7:5 Or as far as Shebarim.
Joshua 7:12-13 That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.
(The divine instruction when fully complied will bring the presence of the holy God and victory over the spiritual enemies. Otherwise, mortals are doomed to destruction. Ephesians 6:12 “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”)
13 “Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.
(The divine instruction says: cleanse your temple! This includes your body, soul -your mind and your emotion- and spirit.)
Joshua 7:25-26 Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. 26 They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble[a] ever since. So the Lord was no longer angry.
Footnotes:
  1. Joshua 7:26 Hebrew valley of Achor.
Joshua 8:30-32 The Lord’s Covenant Renewed 30 Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal. 31 He followed the commands that Moses the Lord’s servant had written in the Book of Instruction: “Make me an altar from stones that are uncut and have not been shaped with iron tools.”[a] Then on the altar they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. 32 And as the Israelites watched, Joshua copied onto the stones of the altar[b] the instructions Moses had given them.
Footnotes:
  1. Joshua 8:31 Exod 20:25; Deut 27:5-6.
  2. Joshua 8:32 Hebrew onto the stones.
Joshua 8:33-35 Then all the Israelites—foreigners and native-born alike—along with the elders, officers, and judges, were divided into two groups. One group stood in front of Mount Gerizim, the other in front of Mount Ebal. Each group faced the other, and between them stood the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant. This was all done according to the commands that Moses, the servant of the Lord, had previously given for blessing the people of Israel.
34 Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of Instruction. 35 Every word of every command that Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among them.
(The divine instruction is practical: Joshua followed exactly according to what Moses had written. Every word and every command was read and reaffirmed. He demonstrated to the entire congregation by his faithful and obedient deed: build the altar, copy the covenant, read the entire word of God.)
(In summary, Joshua believed and practiced the entire word of God, according to what the Lord has instructed him at the beginning of his take over of national leadership from Moses. Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”)

October 13, 2012

End times witnessing: conversation between the watchman and God about love etc.


It was after the third day of absolute fasting. The watchman broke his fast after 2am. He had a thick chicken, carrot and turnip soup, rice, coffee and ice cream (a treat). This time he could eat normally as he prayed for divine ‘digestive system’. After that he could not go back to sleep and he prayed for direction from the Lord. It started a long nightly discourse. After midnight is always the best time for any watchman intercessor. He has the whole stillness of the night to wait before the Lord. The air is fresh and refreshing as the Spirit of the Lord moves gently.
He has recently tidied up three main areas in his house to specifically meet with the Lord: However, after he went through the house thoroughly to cleanse and clear the clutters from the ‘temple’ by faith, led by the Spirit, he found it very comfortable and natural to pray and read the Bible just anywhere.
The three days and three nights absolute fast was not that difficult after all. The difficult part was the second day when he got into depression. The third day was wonderful and normal as he could walk around the garden and clean the walls of fungus. He did not need to sleep during the day and at night he slept several hours and felt refreshed.
So he was looking forward to this late night /after midnight discourse with the Lord. The first night he was led to sit on the floor at the ground floor meeting place. (He and family friends have regular prayer and Bible reading there). The coolness of the early morning air breathed through the french windows. He asked the Lord what to do about some investments, as he discovered in his 2010 notes that “God is the investment expert”! He received his answers.
(The following are only some summarized excerpts of the actual conversation. The purpose here is to demonstrate how the Lord meets with and talks to us .)
Healing and deliverance
After he had asked about someone he loved he asked, “Why do I keep seeing this big patch of blackness looming before my eyes?”
Answer: “That is because you are overcoming. You will go through with this key: ‘mind the things of God.’”
He then thanked the Lord, “I thank you Lord that the oppression on my head has lifted.”
Answer: “It will. The more you trust me the more it will lift.”
He asked, “What about my stiff-neck?”
Answer: “The less stiff-neck you are, the less it will be too.”
The watchman then repented over a number of things over which the Spirit of the Lord had convicted him. He was also led to read Philippians 2:4-5, 7-8.
After a few hours he fell asleep for awhile. When he woke he felt cleansed. He worshiped in spirit and in truth (the word of God). He was led to read Psalms 31-47 and 51 in a non-English language, and Psalms 47-48 in English. As he read and meditated on the word he was convicted by the greatness and goodness of God. He was filled by the Holy Spirit and prayed in new tongue for quite sometime, with joy and thankfulness.
On altar building, justice system, plumb line
The next night/early morning event. He was woken after two hours of sleep and led to read Exodus 20:24, “build My altar wherever I cause My name to be remembered, and I will come to you to bless you.” Where the Lord’s name is being proclaimed, He expects sacrifices. Altar living today means ministering to the Lord in worship, prayers and reading of His word (proclaiming His greatness and goodness), living before the Lord, being mindful of the things of God. (Col.3:1-4)
20:25 “Use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use.” Anything man-made, shaped/modified by man’s effort is of no spiritual value to the Lord. (Zech4:6b ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.)
He read Exodus 19-25. A number of verses stood out in answer to his prayers and petitions during daytime. The Lord answered him specifically through chapter 23 about justice and legal system, the watchman’s concern and indignation over political corruption, social injustice and mistreatment of the poor. The Lord’s instructions to Moses specifically dealt with case in point. He required truthfulness of witnesses (who should not give regard to popular opinion, feelings, relationship, or even social concerns). The watchman asked what truthfulness was. How to measure?
Answer: “Biblical truth is the only plumb line.”
On how a ‘guilty’ person can be acquitted: the power of John 3:16.
Asked (on behalf on the ‘guilty’): “what shall I do?”
Answer: “plead for mercy.”
Asked: “will I be granted mercy?”
Answer: “Yes, you will. John 3:16.”
Asked: “I never realized that John 3:16 can be so important and powerful.”
Answer: “It is. It is the only way the guilty can be acquitted. By blood. My Son’s blood.”
The watchman burst into praises and thanks, “how great You are; how great is your goodness and love for me. Thank you Lord for demonstrating Your love for me!”
Answer: “This is how I teach and show you what love really means. If you do not know this love, you don’t really know love. 1 Cor.13:5 ‘love does not demand its own way.’”
On behalf of those who want to know about ‘love’
The watchman was led to read 1 Corinthians 13. He found these about love as defined by the Lord:
  1. love is complete (as in John 3:16 “God gave His only”)
  2. love has no time limit. (Patient, long-suffering, kind)
  3. love is not influenced by internal self-seeking nor external circumstances.
  4. Truth wins out in love.
Summary: love is not influenced by body and soul. Love is spiritual.
He sighed, “I don’t really understand love.”
Answer: “You do understand love. How else do you think you could have loved ‘someone’ (name)? But love is responsible. You need to learn responsibility(not just in word but also in deed).
Asked: “Are you building truthfulness in me?”
Answer: “Yes, for My name’s sake, for My purpose.”
Asked: “Why are you so good to me?”
Answer: “Because I love you. You are My son (Romans 8:14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God).
Asked: “I really do not deserve such great love from You Lord.”
Answer: “No one deserves, for all have sinned and fall short of My glory (Romans 3:23). Remember John 3:16.”
On praying in tongue
He prayed (but not really flowing in the Spirit) in tongue for awhile. Then he asked what it meant.
Answer: “It means you are trying hard to connect to Me. But that is not how it should be.”
Asked: “How should it be, Father?”
Answer: “Just by keeping still before Me and hear Me in your inner voice. You are already connected to Me (Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit!)”
On letting go
Asked: “why do I keep seeing this black water, with white cloud/sand/waves/shore?” (With his eyes closed)
Answer: “That is the struggle within you. You want to follow Me. But you don’t want to let go.”
Asked, “How can I let go?”
Answer: “Continue reading the book ‘Demands of Love’ and finish it.”
When the watchman said he still wanted to listen to the Lord he was asked to read Psalm 23. Then he read and went to bed.
By the time he woke, his spirit man was happily singing over and over the scripture song,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.”
GOOD NEWS TO ALL -John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

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