Showing posts with label Holy Spirit,. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit,. Show all posts

August 25, 2012

GOD’S SPOKEN WORD IN THE SPIRIT -THE END TIMES WORD-SWORD 3

WRONG USE OF TONGUE BRING DESTRUCTION
Joshua 6:10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.”
Isaiah 3:8 For Jerusalem stumbled, And Judah is fallen, Because their tongue and their doings Are against the LORD, To provoke the eyes of His glory.
Romans 3:13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”;
Psalm 5:9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue.
Psalm 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.
Psalm 12:3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaks proud things,
Psalm 12:4 Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; Who is lord over us?”
Psalm 15:3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
Psalm 31:20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues.
Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.

Psalm 39:1 [ Prayer for Wisdom and Forgiveness ] I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.”
Psalm 50:19 You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit.
Psalm 52:2 Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Psalm 52:4 You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue.
Psalm 55:9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Psalm 57:4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
Psalm 64:3 Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrowsbitter words,
Psalm 73:9 They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth.
Psalm 78:36 Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, And they lied to Him with their tongue;

(Watchman’s notes: how foolish man can be, thinking that they can flatter God and lie to God!)
Psalm 64:8 So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; All who see them shall flee away.
_____________________________
Psalm 109:2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful Have opened against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
Psalm 120:2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.
Psalm 120:3 What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue?
Psalm 140:3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips. Selah
Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 6:24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress.

Proverbs 17:4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.
Proverbs 17:20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.
Proverbs 21:6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.
Proverbs 25:23 The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin.
RIGHT USE OF TONGUE
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Psalm 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
Proverbs 15:23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

Psalm 119:172 My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.
Psalm 39:3 My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
Psalm 45:1 [ The Glories of the Messiah and His Bride ] To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love. My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Psalm 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long.
Psalm 37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice.
Psalm 51:14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

Psalm 66:17 I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.
Psalm 71:24 My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; For they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt.
Psalm 126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
Psalm 139:4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

Proverbs 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Proverbs 25:15 By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.
Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
Song of Solomon 4:11 Your lips, O my spouse, Drip as the honeycomb; Honey and milk are under your tongue; And the fragrance of your garments Is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

TWO TYPES OF TONGUE BRING FORTH GOOD AND EVIL
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little.
Proverbs 10:31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
Proverbs 12:18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
Proverbs 12:19 The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 28:23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue.
HELL FIRE!
James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
James 3:1 [ The Untamable Tongue ] My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
James 3:8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

June 21, 2011

End Times Witnessing: “Do not scoff at spiritual matters!”

Today’s verse is on Jude 1. The passage is the entire Book of Jude. The watchman urges you to read and take heed today the importance to know and understand the spiritual realm is real.

Ponder and meditate on this truth: God is real, angels are real (good ones who minister to God and to believers; and bad ones-devil), heaven and hell are real, rewards and judgments are real. Prayers are real. Spiritual wars are real. The attacks by spiritual beings (devils) causing sickness on your bodies, minds and emotions are real. Eternal life and eternal death (by being forever separated from God) are real!


_______________________The watchman’s comment is at the end of the passage.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Jude 1
Greetings from Jude
1This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.
I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.
2May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.

The Danger of False Teachers
3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. 4I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful. 6 And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. 7And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.

8 In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. 9 But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) 10 But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. 11What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.

12 When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. 13They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.

14 Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones 15to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

16These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

A Call to Remain Faithful
17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. 18 They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 19These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.

20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others,but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

A Prayer of Praise

24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
___________________________________
Watchman’s comments: “They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.”

The reason why a group of ‘church members’ who even take part in Holy Communion with the believers of Jesus Christ, and yet live the life of the un-believers, is because they do not have the Holy Spirit in them.

They are not born again by the Spirit of God. It is natrural for them to be guided by their natural instincts and desires. It is natural for them to scoff at spiritual and supernatural things.

But these people will perish if they do not repent and turn back to worship the true God in Spirit and in Truth.

O, church goers, laugh no more of the spiritual matters. The Lord hears and sees you… (Even the devil and his demons see and hear you too, scoffers).

June 12, 2011

End Times Witnessing: Winning wars Holy Spirit Way (David’s case)

Lately the watchman received instructions on end times war strategies. he was not directly involved in warfare, but he was led to read and take heed. the following passage was on how david followed the holy spirit and won two wars against his long time arch enemy -the philistines. (the watchman’s comments are in bracket. )


2 Samuel 5:17-25
New Living Translation (NLT)
David Conquers the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. 18 The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 19So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

(David’s response to the bad news of his arch enemy mobilizing to capture him: 1. He went into the stronghold (physical and spiritual). 2. He asked the Lord for strategy. He was direct in asking: “Shall I fight? Will You let me win?” Take note that he knew and acknowledged that the winning key is in the hand of the Almighty God.)

The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”

(The Lord’s response to David: The Lord gave straight and precise answers too. “Yes, fight. Yes, I will let you win.”)

20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). 21The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them.

(David’s response to the Lord’s assurance: He acted and won accordingly. He was quick to give full credit to the Lord although he did not see or hear how that could happen. He just believed the Lord’s promise by faith.)

22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 23 And again David asked the Lord what to do.

(David’s response to the second round of bad news: He asked the Lord again. To him, when being attacked, going to the Lord precedes counting military resources is a norm. He knew the Lord so well that he just sought the Lord naturally everytime he encountered a crisis.)

“Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. 24 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”

(The Lord’s response: The Lord told David a change in strategy. This time He wanted David to do it differently, with deeper spiritual discernment. He wanted David to know for sure that it would be the Lord’s heavenly army that would win the war! The Lord enabled David to hear the sound of His heavenly army marching, which would be the signal for David to join in with his ground troops. David’s obedience by faith the first time had pleased the Lord. He was now moved to a higher level of spiritual encounter with the Lord!)

25 So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

(David’s response to the Lord: He obeyed and did as the spiritual Commander-in-Chief commanded and thus won again! This time he was more assured as he could hear the Lord’s army sound in the spiritual realm).

——————————————————
Summary:

1.Know and believe in God (through knowing and believing in Jesus, and knowing and believing in His word)

2.Believe that it is natural to go to the supernatural God everytime you encounter a war (physical, emotional, mental or spiritual attacks)

3.Ask in the Name of Jesus and you will receive answer

4.Believe in the Holy Spirit’s communicating with you

5.Obey and act on what the Holy Spirit has told you

6.Ask and receive your answer by faith (even if you cannot hear or see like what David did)

7.Always give credit to the Lord, Who is your Commander-in-Chief

8.Keep practicing and training your spiritual gifts

9.Obedience by faith brings one to a higher level of spiritual discernment and understanding.

May 11, 2011

End Times Witnessing: Armor 4 – Shield of Faith

Shield of Faith is a must in the whole armor of God that we need to put on daily. This spiritual shield quenches the fiery arrows of the enemy (which he shoots at you day and night). Here is a random list of faith in action from Bible verses with this watchman's comments in bold letters. Do read the Bible and find the rest of the faith verses which form the shield for you and your loved ones! 
_____________________

Have faith in God’s ability and willingness to provide all that we need.


Matthew 6:30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

God (Jesus) is pleased with faith but cannot find it inIsrael (His own people –His church today! On the other hand the unbeliever is able to have great faith once converted!)

Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Fear hinders faith. The disciples became men of no faith!

Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Faith in Jesus can result in sins being forgiven.

Matthew 9:2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

Others’ faith contributed to a paralytic receiving healing from Jesus.

Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”


Faith in Jesus can make one become well immediately.

Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.


The blind men received healing according to their faith in Jesus.

Matthew 9:29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”


Doubt hinders faith. Peter (who prior to this manifestation was walking on water by faith in Jesus) sank when he started doubting Jesus.

Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”


A mother’s faith in Jesus resulted in her daughter being instantly healed by Jesus.

Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.


Faith means not looking at the physical aspects. Faith is spiritual. Live by faith means live by the Spirit.

Matthew 16:8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?


Unbelief hinders the mountain moving power of faith!

Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.


Faith means not doubting and carrying out faith related action (by speaking God’s word)

Matthew 21:21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.


Even the essence of the law includes faith (together with justice and mercy).

Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.


A woman’s faith in Jesus had made her well from her long term illness.

Mark 5:34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”


A blind man’s faith in Jesus had made him well.

Mark 10:52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.


Faith means faith in Jesus (God).

Mark 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.


Both women’s faith in action has saved them. They received both healing and peace of God because of their faith in Jesus!

Luke 7:50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”


Jesus expects use of faith in His followers. He wants to see their faith. Did they put it in a closet? Why did they not use their faith? (He implies that all they need is to take it out and use it, they would even overcome the powerful elements of nature! Winds and stormy waves are no match for faith in Jesus!)

Luke 8:25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”



Faith requires belief in the words of God and use them without doubt. There is no need to ask for increase of faith! Faith’s application overcomes natural law.

Luke 17:5 [ Faith and Duty ] And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” Luke 17:6
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.


One out of ten lepers returned to give glory to God when he saw that he was healed. Thus, by putting his faith in Jesus and being thankful (and worshipful), he received wellness from Jesus in addition to being cleansed of his leprosy!

Luke 17:19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”


Jesus has forewarned that He will look for faith on the earth when He returns. He also has linked faith and persistent prayers together. (For those who do not pray you would have no faith to show to the Lord when He comes).

Luke 18:8 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”


Faith must not fail. Jesus even interceded for Peter so his faith should not fail. Intercession will help your loved ones’ faith not to fail.

Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”



Faith in Jesus’ name has made a man lame from his mother’s womb healed. Peter had faith in Jesus’ mighty name and he gave this to the lame man who also received with faith. Thus the miracle occurred!

Acts 3:16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.


(Stephen) A man having faith and the power of the Holy Spirit work together to do great wonders and signs.

Acts 6:8 [ Stephen Accused of Blasphemy ] And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.


(Barnabas) A good man having faith and full of the Holy Spirit together bring many to Christ.

Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.


Faith to be healed can be observed. The cripple from mother’s womb thus received his healing from Paul.

Acts 14:9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,


Having faith is a life time requirement to enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”


Faith is a door to enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.


Faith cleanses and purifies the believer’s heart for the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Acts 15:8-9 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.


Churches’ growth in number relates to being strengthened in the faith.


Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.


Testifying, repentance and faith work together in salvation.


Acts 20:21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.


Those sanctified by faith in Jesus may receive double blessings: forgiveness of sins and inheritance as sons of God from God

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

September 14, 2010

WHAT IS TRUE WORSHIP?

THE CONTENT OF WORSHIP

“I know that Thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). “I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders. I will be glad and exult in Thee; I will sing praise to Thy name, O Most High” (Ps. 9:1 2). “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Ps. 19:1). “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:3). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns” (Rev. 19:6).
(John 4:23 24). Jesus told the Samaritan woman: “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
Psalm 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 81:9 There shall be no foreign god among you;Nor shall youworshipany foreign god.
Psalm 86:9 All nations whom You have madeShall come and worshipbefore You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name.
Psalm 95:1 A Call to Worship and Obedience ] Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
Psalm 96:9 Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!Tremble before Him, all the earth.
Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
Zechariah 14:16 The Nations Worship the King ] And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worshipthe King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Acts 24:14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
1 Corinthians 14:25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
Colossians 2:18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Revelation 4:9-11 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “ You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Revelation 22:7-9 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

March 3, 2010

Chapter Seventy-Seven: A watchman cries, "Your face, Lord, I will Seek!"


Jack is led by the Spirit to share a series of his action steps for END TIME SURVIVAL WITH JESUS OUTSIDE THE CAMP complete with Scripture verses to help to cast out unbelief and let mustard seed faith come forth and produce tangible result.
Survival Step One: How to live by the Spirit?
Action One: Seek God diligently daily. Why? By end time, Christians would have realized that they just have to depend on God to get them out of the horror. There is no one but God Who can save them. All who choose to follow and identify with Jesus will need to know how to seek God and hear His voice.
SEEK GOD NOW. This is the Number One preparation action for end time survival. You need to TRAIN NOW in worship, prayers and reading of His word.
God wants us to seek Him. In Psalm 27:8 David declared to God: "When You said, seek My face, my heart said to You, Your face, Lord, I will seek." (Psalm 27:8)
Indeed, God looks down from heaven to see if anyone who understands, who seeks Him. (Psaalm14:2; 53:2)
God even says He rewards those who diligently seek Him! (Heb.11:6)
God is our refuge, fortress, and strength in the day of affliction (Psalm 46; Jeremiah. 16:19).
He is our protector against evil, destruction and pestilence. (Psalm 91)
God delivered His people from evil for the purpose of meeting with them and dwelling among them as their God! (Exodus 20:24; 29:42-46)
Jesus said He needs to know you first before He will allow you to enter into heaven. (Matt. 7:21-23) Get used to seeking and meeting God (The Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) now daily so you would not be caught in end time without knowing Him.

Jack has over many years, with intensity building up in the last 12 months, been seeking God consistently. The result is indeed amazing and rewarding. What God has promised in His word have come true! What happened?
1. He started by reading the Bible as a young Christian. A lot of Christians do this as a routine. Over many years, the word of God has been stored in his heart (spirit).
2. He meditated on God's word. He memorized them. But he was not satisfied when he could not receive any illumination from the word. So he persisted in seeking. He listened to sermons with his whole heart. He thirsted and hungered for the word of God to feed his inner man.
3. After many years, he realized that the problem was with his mind and not his heart. The mind is well trained, to analyze, rationalize and organize. All these actions have no input from faith and/or from the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth.
God says, without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Heb.11:6)
Jesus says, the Holy Spirit comes to guide us into all truth. (John 16:13)
4. A breakthrough came last year. Jack was asked to sign up to pray for the churches and the city he lived in. So he did. That was  the beginning of a journey in the Holy Spirit. He found that the prayers were empty and lifeless and came from mechanical recitation of written guides from his church or a copy from somewhere in his mind archives. His heart was sincere but his flesh (body and mind) blocked him from really reaching the level that God has intended for him.
5.  He recalled how he was filled with the Holy Spirit many years ago, the joy and love he felt flowing from God's presence to him then. He read the Bible day and night then with zeal and passion, believing that the word of God was real and they spoke to him. However when he started going back to church he was soon caught in the snare of man's tradition. He built up considerable Bible knowledge. He clocked in numerous hours of ministering to others. But he soon became malnourished spiritually.
6. So Jack started to practice worshiping God and waiting upon the Lord. That was the breakthrough. God's presence becomes real to him. He read the word of God afresh and listened to the still small voice within if any. God started to get through to him. He saw visions. he dreamed dreams. He saw Bible verses in his heart. He receives Biblical confirmations for the visions and dreams.
7. When he prays, he no longer utters familiar routine words that sound good to hear but empty (which the Lord Jesus described as babbling like pagans), knowing that he is in front of the great, awesome and holy God. How can he simply say things? When he hears his own previous prayers he feels ashamed.

END-TIME SURVIVAL is all about knowing how to hear God and follow His voice. The Holy Spirit will lead you in your spirit to listen and follow. The word of God that you have stored in your heart will rise to the occasion and become alive, bring forth life as you pray it and meditate on it and proclaim it by faith.

How else do you think Jesus has expected you to overcome? Just practice now. You will hear God. You will see what God wants you to see in your spirit. You will become real. A son of God. A kingdom of God citizen. A royal priest. A special national. An elect. A victorious remnant. A faith person. Jesus becomes your real life.

It is a marvelous and wonderful life in Christ Jesus. A divine lifestyle on earth as it is in heaven. No fear for end-time.

February 18, 2010

Chapter sixty-nine: "Arise, O watchman and pray! Stand in the gap!"



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

November 12, 2009

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE: UNDER THE TUTORSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT



When Jack told the Holy Spirit he was sorry for not listening and also for not obeying the Holy Spirit’s instructions, he did not expect the Holy Spirit to be so quick in responding. Jack has been listening to teachings and reading books on the subject of prophetic functions that one may be called to carry out, either for specific occasions or as an ongoing role.

He was very interested as he occasionally felt he could be doing something of this nature (not the ongoing type). He has read some very relevant books lately on this topic. Prophets, Healers and the Emerging Church by John and Paula Sandford, and Authority In Prayer by Dutch Sheets are two examples.

He summarizes below the 12 major functions of the prophet as taught by John Sandford and places his own remarks in brackets:
1. Blessing: pronounce blessing and enable God’s blessing. (He was suddenly called to pronounce blessing for someone).
2. Healing. (He was suddenly asked to do this on one occasion within the same week as above).
3. Pronounce judgment.
4. Warn of impending judgment or tragedy.
5. Protect or rescue. (In his intercessions he carried out this function).
6. Give direction, guidance or confirmation. (He was called to do this when being asked to pray for two different persons within the last month).
7. Rebuke, reprove or correct.
8. Edify, teach and interpret dreams and visions. (He thought he was called to do this in his writings).
9. Equip the saints for ministry. (Same as above)
10. Work for unity.
11. Call for intercession and repentance. (He has been praying for others on this line).
12. Express and model God’s love in Christ.

However, except for one case where there was an immediate result, there was no way he could know of the other outcome if any. He merely obeyed and did not jump to any conclusion. Today’s teaching from Oswald Chambers reminds that we have to learn that the aim in life is God’s, not ours. God has taken us up into His purpose by the Holy Spirit.

Sandford wrote that no one in his right mind should want to be a prophet. No prophet becomes a prophet by his or her own choice. Jack was fully aware that what he experienced did not mean that he was called to be a prophet or that he was necessarily carrying out prophetic functions. On the other hand, why was he given the opportunity to experience them? Today something happened to reveal more about God.

This morning Jack reviewed his previous days’ activities and thanked the Holy Spirit for being a good teacher and a personal spiritual tutor for him. He had nothing specific to pray for so he prayed in tongue generally for the bulk of the morning. What happened after that and through out the remains of the day was unbelievable.

Towards noon time, Jack received an urgent intercession call. As the matter involved the lives of people (strangers in a very far off land) in danger, he took Holy Communion for them. When he started to intercede he couldn’t as he did not know how. He asked the Holy Spirit to help him. He waited and nothing came to his mind or heart. So he decided to finish his own chores and take a bath instead. After that he quieted down and continued to pray in tongue and began to see a clear picture and a sentence (of three words) describing the scene, in his mind. He saw what he had to intercede. So he obeyed. It was indeed a spiritual breakthrough as he would never have thought of that aspect with his mind.

Later he was led to sing a hymn, “It is well with my soul”, for those people in captive. Then he was told to take a break. He continued with other chores while praying in the Spirit all the time. He then read the Dutch Sheets’ book and was led to use Psalm 24 to pronounce the arrival of the King of glory and that all gates are to open. So he stood up and obeyed. After that he discovered a song bursting forth in his heart and it was “Majesty” (written by Jack Hayford)!

The whole day was thus spent learning from the Holy Spirit. He was led by his Spiritual Tutor to worship and intercede like never before. He was led to practice the priestly intercessory function as well as using the authority of the King (Jesus) to proclaim and pronounce (as taught by Sheets). He was also able to practice some of the prophetic functions described by Sandford.

At the end of the day, he concluded that the whole episode was part of an answer to his prayer of wanting to know more about God. The whole intercession event was another demonstration by God of the readiness of the Holy Spirit and how He could communicate with us the minute we are willing to listen and obey. It was like sitting in a classroom learning an intensive course with a lot of practical!

Another wonderful and meaningful day of living in the Spirit!
2009-11-11

2024 not abandoned: a new spiritual journey

How may we hear God and understand Him more accurately? Last night while praying my heart purposed to start afresh the unfinished journey ov...