What is love? Know and be cured.

Love remains the top of the chart.
What is love? This blogger recommends this following series of audio teachings about love by Andrew Wommack, whose own life had been changes and empowered by his encounter with the love of God over forty years ago.

http://www.awmi.net/extra/audio/1055

The Greatest Of These Is Love

You Can't Give What You Don't Have

Could I Be The Problem?

If Not Me, Then Who?

Dealing With Offenses

Dealing With Offenses When All Else Fails

Forgiveness, Isn't There A Limit?

Self-Centeredness

Jesus Is Our Example

 

excerpts from his written testimony:

""Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).

Most of us think that we really understand the love of God, but our experience proves otherwise. We feel lonely, depressed, discouraged, and defeated. Every one of these negative emotions would be turned to positive by a proper revelation of God's love for us.

As for loving others, most of us would admit there are some people who are very difficult to love. Since we do not fully understand God's love for us, we fail in loving others. We can't give away what we don't have. If we receive a full revelation of God's love for us, it becomes easy to love others with the love that we have received.

When we struggle to believe that God's promises to us will come to pass, that's unbelief; but the root of that unbelief is a lack of love. Galatians 5:6 says faith works by love. That means love is the driving force behind our faith. Remove or diminish love, and faith ceases to be what it should be. Many of us try hard to believe when we should be seeking a greater revelation of God's love for us. Then, faith would just naturally work.

Just a few months after Jamie and I were married, we were in a desperate situation. I had quit my job, believing that the Lord wanted me to go into full-time ministry. The result was that we were hurting financially. It had been days since we had eaten. We had nothing but a few Cokes that a friend had given us and a bag of Fritos that we had been rationing out. Our faith was beginning to waver. We were fighting with all we had, to believe that the Lord was going to supply our needs, but our circumstances and empty bellies were screaming unbelief at us.

One morning, Jamie took our last fifty cents and our car and drove to the laundry mat to do some laundry. While she was gone, I did some serious business with the Lord. I was crying and saying, "Lord, I don't understand. I would give my right arm to feed Jamie. I believe You love us more than I love Jamie, and yet You aren't taking care of us." I had let circumstances blind me to God's love. That's the main reason my faith wasn't working.

The Lord spoke Luke 12:32 to me very clearly. That verse says, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Suddenly, I realized my unbelief was because I had forgotten how much God loves us. As the revelation of God's love for us came flooding over me, all doubt that our needs would be supplied was instantly gone. When Jamie returned from doing the laundry, I told her that we were going to eat meat that day.

We had Fritos and Coke for lunch. We skipped supper because we were tired of Fritos and Coke. At church, a friend asked us to stop by his apartment after the service. We thought, "Maybe they are going to feed us." We stayed and talked for over an hour, but there was no food. As we were leaving, however, the man gave us loads of fish that he had caught. He also gave us all the vegetables to go with them. We rushed home, and Jamie fixed us a feast. Just a few minutes prior to midnight, we ate meat to our fill. The next day was my birthday, and a woman in the church gave us a large box full of porterhouse steaks. We went from a starvation diet of Fritos and Coke, to having enough steaks for a month in just a matter of hours because love made my faith work....

 

  There are many ways that Satan uses to try to block the revelation of God's love for us. One of the most subtle, and therefore the most deadly, ways is that he has deceived us into thinking that God's love for us is tied to our performance. We think we have to do something to earn God's love. We have to merit God's love. That is not what the Bible teaches.

In the natural world, you get what you deserve. Employers don't hire you based on their love for you. You have to perform. If you perform badly, you are punished or fired. The same thing is true in most relationships. I've had hundreds of married couples essentially tell me, "They don't deserve my love." However, the nearly-too-good-to-be-true news of the Gospel is that we don't get what we deserve. Praise the Lord!

God's love for us is unconditional. That is, God doesn't love us because of some virtue we possess. God loves us because "God is love" (1 John 4:8), not because we are lovely...

 

 We all need a greater revelation of God's unconditional love for us! I have a special series designed just for that purpose. A revelation of God's unconditional love for me is what turned my life around in 1968. It's still impacting me today. These teachings reveal the things God showed me about His love. I believe that if you open up your heart, the Lord will grant you at least as much revelation on this as I have, and it will change your life. Please order the album entitled God's Kind of Love: The Cure for What Ails Ya today." (http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/gods_love)

TV broadcast of
God's Kind Of Love

http://www.awmi.net/tv/2006/week6
the CD: http://www.awmi.net/store/usa/cd_albums/1015_c

a letter: each must find his/her or its own course and follow through to its end

DEAR BELOVED OF GOD:

Last night I slept after 2 something.I came back from a posh French dinner and had a scare when my mobile phone was jammed at the starting screen and couldn’t be shut down. I did open both ends and found that they did not house the battery. Later I waited for the battery to run out using the fan at full blast to cool it to prevent explosion if any. my over imaginative mind…sigh.

Then I went on internet and discovered this phone’s battery was fixed and could not be removed!

How to shut if off ? A blogger advised that he did it by pressing the on-off button and the sound volume increase-decrease button at the same time.

Anyway my prayer was answered. The phone actually shut down itself when the battery was exhausted. Then I recharged the phone and discovered to my relief it came back to ‘life’ by itself. (Rather, by angels’ working overtime! )

While all these were going on, and I was sitting in darkness in the humid and sweaty night, I thought of how even a jumbo jet could exhaust its fuel and shut down itself wherever it 'happened' to land itself (on solid ground or on stormy raging waters).
So is life without God.

There is an appointed time for each appointed living being and even non-living thing. How awesome is our Creator.

Lesson and reminder learned:

1. appointed time cannot be ignored. It doesn’t change its course.

2. each must find his/her or its own course and follow through to its end.

3. Believers can ask the Lord and follow through without fail if we really want to. Jesus has promised each believer His Spirit to lead and enable us to complete the race in the time appointed to each.

4. Reminder to all: when time is up, it is up. Like choosing a path in the maze: once a wrong choice is made,  it will still lead the mistaken to its end, usually a dead end.

Frightening without the Holy Spirit!

5. My resolution: Must spend the rest of my appointed time to use my spiritual gifts to the max., hopefully, to bring many to the Holy Spirit pathway.

love to all,

watchman

an appoinited time for each man

End Times Spirit-filled hymns: Healing in His cleansing blood!

The hymns came on as he worshiped. They brought out the same theme for these last days of spiritual crossing from 2013 to 2014. The worship started with the majestic music for the King of kings, Lord of Lord, “Majesty”. The trumpets were not of this earth. The second hymn was “Blessed Assurance” and third was “Tis sweet to trust in Jesus”. Very familiar hymns but on this particular morning they were messages from heaven. The watchman received two keys: “Find”, and “Healing”. These two are end days crossing keys.
Blessed Assurance
Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915 Music: Phoebe P. Knapp, 1839-1908 Tune: ASSURANCE,  Meter: 9 10.9 9 with Refrain
1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
 Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
(Refrain)
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
(Refrain)  Links for downloading: MIDI
background story: Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) is heralded as one of the world’s most prolific and talented hymn composers. Blind from shortly after birth, Fanny nonetheless wrote 8,000 hymns. One day Fanny overheard her friend and fellow musician Phoebe Knapp playing a new composition on the organ. Phoebe told Fanny the tune was called Assurance. Fanny replied: ‘Blessed Assurance! Jesus is mine!’ And so began the collaboration that was to become one of Christendom’s most beloved hymns. Blessed Assurance was published in 1873

‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus | Louisa M. R. Stead, 1882

Scripture:  Proverbs 30:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵ Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.
_________________Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Tis_So_Sweet_to_Trust_in_Jesus/midi/
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood; And in simple faith to plunge me ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease; Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest, and joy and peace.
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.
___________Background story
According to the story: It was a beautiful sunny day. Louisa M. Stead, her husband, and her daughter Lily, decided to go for a picnic. They went picnicking on Long Island Sound. While having their picnic, the Steads heard a scream. It was from a young boy. Mr. Stead ran to the rescue. Louisa Stead and young Lily watched helplessly as Mr. Stead and the boy drowned. Their troubles were not over yet, however, and without her husband, Mrs. Stead became very poor and destitute. Yet God never left her. He provided for her always and she and her daughter made it through. Louisa learned to trust God, and thus the words to the song ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.’ Shortly after this incident, Louisa and her daughter Lily moved to South Africa where they became missionaries.
__________________________
The words of Stead’s poem were put to music by famed musician William J. Kirkpatrick, and subsequently published in several hymnals. The tragedy that prompted the lyrics of Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus has resulted in bringing comfort to many souls, for close to 130 years.

End Times Survival Weapons: Fast and Pray Training Class 2

The watchman and his class went through a miraculous weekend fasting the Esther Fast (three days without food or water) together in the sanctuary of God., some with variations (3 days with water; one or two days without food or water). For the watchman this was the first time without food and water for 72 hours (Thursday 6pm to Sunday 6pm).
A week prior to this, he fasted caffeine (coffee and tea) totally. For a week he suffered the withdrawal symptoms and had a hard time adjusting. But reading the word of God and seeking God enabled him to hold on. By the time the actual fast started he was amazed to find that he did not have any more physical symptoms (manifestations).
A pastor came to minister to the class by sharing God’s words on fasting. They sang hymns of God’s words put in music. They proclaimed God’s words. They worshiped and praised God. The brethren gathered together in one unison in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Spirit was in their midst. The anointing broke the yokes. During one session, on the second day, the watchman had chest pain which lasted thirty minutes. He prayed. He commanded it to go. When the hymn based on Isaiah 54:17 was sung, he decided to sing along.
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.”
He proclaimed the verses by applying them on himself. As he sang he could feel the pain which spread to his ear left just as suddenly as it came!
On the third day he found that he coughed out a bit of phlegm. Otherwise he felt fresh and well. The supply of moisture in his mouth was constant and supernatural. He could translate, speak, read aloud God’s words, sing and worship God.  However when he felt he was safely near his goal, with four more hours to go, he had a frightful attack twice. At 2pm his breath stopped without symptoms or forewarning. He was taking a nap in his room alone when this happened. In that instant he got up. The first time it happened he did not take heed it was a spiritual attack. So he tried to sleep again. But this time it was very clear and he was not even sleeping when his breath stopped. (This time he heard in his spirit “take the Blood of Jesus, proclaim life!”) So he got up, knelt down and took the Holy Communion.
Later when he recalled this incident he recalled that just prior the fasting an agent called him for an appointment for a potential buyer to view his spare house on Sunday 2pm (the exact moment of the attacks). The agent said that this buyer can pay cash for his house and really wants to buy his house even at the rather high price he intends to sell. But a loved one who overheard this conversation immediately said no. She reminded him to Isaiah 58:13-14. The watchman obeyed. The words of God had saved him. (He dared not think of the consequences if he was driving long distance alone or in that empty house alone when the attacks occurred). The Lord was indeed merciful!
Some of the lessons learned from this fasting training for the watchman are as follows:
1. Believe and Obey the words of God.

2. Listen and obey the Holy Spirit.

3. Honor God (and His words).

4. Be humble and open to reminders from others (they are led by the Holy Spirit too!)

5. Watch and Pray always.

________________Bible Verses

Isaiah 58:13-14 (NKJV)

¹³ “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
¹⁴ Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Today’s Proverbs: Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?

Proverbs 23

New Living Translation (NLT)

23 While dining with a ruler,
pay attention to what is put before you.
² If you are a big eater,
put a knife to your throat;
³ don’t desire all the delicacies,
for he might be trying to trick you.

⁴ Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.
Be wise enough to know when to quit.
⁵ In the blink of an eye wealth disappears,
for it will sprout wings
and fly away like an eagle.

⁶ Don’t eat with people who are stingy;
don’t desire their delicacies.
⁷ They are always thinking about how much it costs.^[a]
“Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.
⁸ You will throw up what little you’ve eaten,
and your compliments will be wasted.

⁹ Don’t waste your breath on fools,
for they will despise the wisest advice.

¹⁰ Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers;
don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.
¹¹ For their Redeemer^[b] is strong;
he himself will bring their charges against you.

¹² Commit yourself to instruction;
listen carefully to words of knowledge.

¹³ Don’t fail to discipline your children.
They won’t die if you spank them.
¹⁴ Physical discipline
may well save them from death.^[c]

¹⁵ My child,^[d] if your heart is wise,
my own heart will rejoice!
¹⁶ Everything in me will celebrate
when you speak what is right.

¹⁷ Don’t envy sinners,
but always continue to fear the Lord.
¹⁸ You will be rewarded for this;
your hope will not be disappointed.

¹⁹ My child, listen and be wise:
Keep your heart on the right course.
²⁰ Do not carouse with drunkards
or feast with gluttons,
²¹ for they are on their way to poverty,
and too much sleep clothes them in rags.

²² Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
²³ Get the truth and never sell it;
also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.
²⁴ The father of godly children has cause for joy.
What a pleasure to have children who are wise.^[e]
25 So give your father and mother joy!
May she who gave you birth be happy.

²⁶ O my son, give me your heart.
May your eyes take delight in following my ways.
²⁷ A prostitute is a dangerous trap;
a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.
²⁸ She hides and waits like a robber,
eager to make more men unfaithful.

²⁹ Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?
    Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?
    Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
³⁰ It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,
    trying out new drinks.
³¹ Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,
how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
³² For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;
    it stings like a viper.
³³ You will see hallucinations,
    and you will say crazy things.
³⁴ You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,
clinging to a swaying mast.
³⁵ And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it.
I didn’t even know it when they beat me up.
When will I wake up
so I can look for another drink?”

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 23:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
2. Proverbs 23:11 Or redeemer.
3. Proverbs 23:14 Hebrew from Sheol.
4. Proverbs 23:15 Hebrew My son; also in 23:19.
5. Proverbs 23:24 Hebrew to have a wise son.

End Times Survival Weapons: Fast and Pray training class

The watchman was led to fast the Esther fast, no food and no water, for three days towards the end of March. He gathered all those who regularly go to the Prayer House and two families who come to his Bible reading house class weekly, urging them to start preparing for the fast. He knew it would be a major task for all concerned as they had never done this before. Some young people may not have the spiritual stamina to last it.

He was however encouraged when the respective heads of the two families purposed in their hearts to obey the Lord’s calling. One man started immediately on the eve after the Saturday Bible reading  house meeting together with the watchman. Another couple started on the following Tuesday evening (on which day they had a Bible reading meeting in the couples’ house).

The fasting training for the first group was Yom Kippur style, no food and no water, from sundown to sundown (24 hours). The two have had some experience in fasting before so they did not feel much discomfort. The only problem with the watchman was that he had to fast coffee and water at the same time. He could live comfortably without food but the dryness of his throat was uncomfortable. On the following Sunday morning he was required to share the words of God for about one and half hours, during which he talked naturally and without any hindrance. Toward the later part of the following afternoon he could feel the heaviness on the side of his head. He regretted and repented his taste for coffee. (sigh)

The other brother reported that he was alright. This was his first time of complete fasting without food and water. He held well as he was not a coffee lover. He merely had to overcome not drinking water.

On a lighter side, the day the watchman announced to his own household (and guests) the fasting training, he was surprised to find that a family of three generations (a grandma, daughter and a grand-daughter) who are currently staying in his house decided to fast one meal (lunch). The 70 years old grandma stayed in her room and had her own quiet time and rest through out the day. The daughter (who is the aunt to the little nine-years old girl) and the 9 years old girl (60kg in weight) stayed in the lounge and argued with each other. The little girl was grumbling and said she was dying of hunger. The aunt said the trouble was that the little one did not believe that drinking water and feeding on God’s word would keep her well fed.The aunt said, “she is all flesh/carnal. It is time she toughens up and be spiritual and prepares for end times!” (Of course, the overweight child soon forgot all about food and happily ran into the garden to play with the watchman’s newly acquired yellow Labrador puppy, Grace, after the watchman gave her permission!)

The watchman promised his class that he would give them more information on how to prepare for the Esther fast. For a start, he advised them to progressively practice as follows in various combinations and stages, as led by the Holy Spirit, each according to his or her level of faith:

1. fast one meal a day, progressing to fasting two meals a day.
2. fast all meat: take vegetables and fruits and water.
3. fast all solid food. Take only liquid drinks and soups.
3. fast all food except drinking water.
4. fast all food and water.

5. fasting hours:
6am to 12pm same day ; 6am to 6pm same day; 6am to 12am same day; 6am to following day’s 6am; 6pm from sundown to the following day’s 6pm.

6. Activities: light physical activities. read Bible, meditate on God and His word, pray (in the Spirit and in understanding as led by the Spirit). Conserve water if one is fasting water as well.
7. Food before and after: light meals with little salt; avoid processed food or drinks; stop coffee.

8. On the actual Esther Fast three days (29th March-1st April 2012 from 6pm to 6pm):

a. Take leave from work.

b. Gather together in small groups (can include family as a unit) to worship, fast and pray together.

c. Stop unnecessary world ‘connection’/communication (e.g. mobile phone calls and messaging, internet, games, entertainment and social activities). Stop looking at the ‘windows’/screens (TV, hand phone, computer, gaming device).

d. Focus on building God connection: led by the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit anointing break your strongholds in the mind and emotion, your soul ties, your ‘connections’ to the second heaven (through the above mentioned windows that link your souls with the evil spirits/forces).

e. Focus on the goal of fasting: For your nation (just as Esther and the Jews in Sushan).

f. Assemble and hold a solemn meeting together before and after the fasting.

___________________________Bible verses:

Esther 4:15-17 (NKJV)

¹⁵ Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
¹⁷ So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.^[a]

Footnotes:

1. Esther 4:17 Septuagint adds a prayer of Mordecai here.

Watchman’s Adventure: A Freedom Song for End Times

 The watchman sang one song in his spirit throughout the night. When he woke he realized it is Psalm 103. The verses he kept repeating are: verses 1-5. When he read the whole psalm he received it as a “flight to freedom” song. So he sings.

What a wonderful yearend this has become!
______________________________

Psalm 103

A Psalm of David.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;


And all that is within me, bless His holy name!


2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,


And forget not all His benefits:


3 Who forgives all your iniquities,


Who heals all your diseases,


4 Who redeems your life from destruction,


Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,


5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,


So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.


6 The LORD executes righteousness

And justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known His ways to Moses,

His acts to the children of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

9 He will not always strive with us,

Nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

12 As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father pities his children,

So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

14 For He knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust.

_________________________

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place remembers it no more.[a]

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children’s children,

18 To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven,


And His kingdom rules over all.



20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,

Who excel in strength, who do His word,

Heeding the voice of His word.

21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,

You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.

22 Bless the LORD, all His works,

In all places of His dominion.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Footnotes:

1.Psalm 103:16 Compare Job 7:10

Fasting God wants (NT)

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose of fasting is to spend time before God and get to know God more. Jesus Himself fasted forty days and forty nights in preparation for His ministry on earth. He set an example for His disciples. He also presented God to us in His life on earth. Fasting and praying are an integral part of Christian life.


Jesus Fasted

Matthew 4:2 And when He (Jesus) had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

Jesus taught on fasting:

Do not deliberate show it externally; fasting is not for show to man; fasting is not for scoring points with God (no boasting please!)

Matthew 6:16-18 [ Fasting to Be Seen Only by God ] “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (wrong fasting is just for show to other men, not for God)

Luke 18:12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ (pride and boasting are detestable to God)

There is an appointed time and reason for fasting:

Fasting is for the Lord first

Mark 2:18-20 [ Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting ] The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.

Luke 2:37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Fasting breaks bondages and yokes and delivers a person from the control of Satan

Matthew 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (In this case, Jesus referred to His disciples who want to heal and deliver others)

Fasting and praying are often linked and done together, leading to spiritual understanding and actions according to God’s will

Acts 10:30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Fasting can be done during crisis, when supernatural intervention from God is needed

Acts 27:9 [ Paul’s Warning Ignored ] Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,

Fasting is part and parcel of an apostle’s life

2 Corinthians 6:5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;

2 Corinthians 11:27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—

Wholly Saved: Blessed Assurance Indeed!

Last morning when the watchman attended a morning prayer, he was led in the spirit to ask that the hymn of “Blessed Assurance” be sung to one sister there. The sister was terminally ill. She initially did not want to come out from her rest room to attend the worship, but changed her mind when another sister went in and encouraged her to at least join in the worship. The hymn was duly sung and the lyrics shown to her. He was also led to select another song which sang what Jesus has proclaimed in Matt11:28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

(Lyrics: ” All you who labor and are heavy laden, Yeshua says, Come to Me, Do not fear, do not fear, come to Me, and I will give you rest. He is God, wholly loves you, He will never forsake you. He is God, truly loves you, He wants to give you rest.”)

A day later he was told that she had passed away. When he read the following hymn and the above lyrics again, he realized that the Lord had indeed foretold her He would receive her home to Him and rest in Him. He heard later that she had earlier uttered to another sister that she did not want to die in hell. So she had chosen to come to the House of God!

On one previous occasion he saw her he was led in his spirit to ask her to forgive her youngest son (even though he did not know her or her family at all) and she burst into tears and did as told by the Spirit. Then he knew she had a breakthrough in her spiritual (and soul )reconciliation with God and with her loved ones and others. He encouraged her to spend more time to give thanks and praises to God after that.

How merciful and awesome our God is!

(A pastor who has the gift of word of knowledge once prophecy one word “Reconciliation” to the watchman. Both wondered what it meant. It seems clearer now -like he being a spiritual messenger for reconciliation before it is too late.)

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Blessed AssuranceText: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915
Music: Phoebe P. Knapp, 1839-1908
Tune: ASSURANCE, Meter: 9 10.9 9 with Refrain

http://library.timelesstruths.org/library/music/B/Blessed_Assurance/Blessed_Assurance.mid

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
(Refrain)

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
(Refrain)

Power in the Blood of Jesus

http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/5f00.0572/5f00.0572.c.htm

The Power of the Blood of Jesus by Andrew Murray

CHAPTER CONTENTS

I. WHAT THE SCRIPTURES TEACH ABOUT THE BLOOD
II. REDEMPTION BY BLOOD
III. RECONCILIATION THROUGH THE BLOOD
IV. CLEANSING THROUGH THE BLOOD
V. SANCTIFICATION THROUGH THE BLOOD
VI. CLEANSED BY THE BLOOD TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD
VII. DWELLING IN “THE HOLIEST” THROUGH THE BLOOD
VIII. LIFE IN THE BLOOD
IX. VICTORY THROUGH THE BLOOD
X. HEAVENLY JOY THROUGH THE BLOOD
____________________
Excerpts:
CHAPTER 1
What the Scriptures Teach About the Blood
“Not Without Blood”-Heb. ix. 7 and 18.
GOD has spoken to us in the Scriptures in divers portions and in divers manners; but the VOICE is ever the same, it is always the WORD of the same GOD.

Hence the importance of treating the Bible as a whole, and receiving the witness it gives in its various portions, concerning certain definite truths. It is thus we learn to recognise the place these truths actually occupy in Revelation, or rather in the HEART OF GOD. Thus, too, we begin to discover what the foundation truths of the Bible are, which above others demand attention. Standing as they do, so prominently, in each new departure in God’s revelation; remaining unchanged when the Dispensation changes, they carry a divine intimation of their importance.

It is my object, in the chapters which follow this introductory one, to show what the Scriptures teach us concerning THE GLORIOUS POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS, and the wonderful blessings procured for us by it; and I cannot lay a better foundation for my exposition, nor give a better proof of the superlative glory of THAT BLOOD AS THE POWER OF REDEMPTION, than by asking my, readers to follow me through the Bible, and thus see the unique place which is given to THE BLOOD from the beginning to the end of God’s revelation of Himself to man, as recorded in the Bible.

It will become clear that there is no single scriptural idea, from Genesis to Revelation, more constantly and more prominently kept in view, than that expressed by the words-”THE BLOOD.”
Our inquiry then is what the Scriptures teach us about THE BLOOD.

FIRST, IN THE OLD TESTAMENT;
SECONDLY, IN THE TEACHING OF OUR LORD JESUS HIMSELF;
THIRDLY, IN WHAT THE APOSTLES TEACH; and
LASTLY, WHAT ST. JOHN TELLS US OF IT IN REVELATION.
CHAPTER 2

Redemption by Blood
“Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”-I Pet. i. 18, 79.

THE shedding of His blood was the culmination of the sufferings of our Lord. The atoning efficacy of those sufferings was in that shed blood. It is therefore of great importance that the believer should not rest satisfied with the mere acceptance of the blessed truth that he is redeemed by that blood, but should press on to a fuller knowledge of what is meant by that statement, and to learn what that blood is intended to do in a surrendered soul.

Its effects are manifold, for we read in Scripture of RECONCILIATION through the blood; CLEANSING through the blood; SANCTIFICATION through the blood; UNION WITH GOD through the blood; VICTORY over Satan through the blood; LIFE through the blood.

These are separate blessings but are all included in one sentence: REDEMPTION BY THE BLOOD.

It is only when the believer understands what these blessings are, and by what means they may become his, that he can experience the full power of REDEMPTION.

Before passing on to consider in detail these several blessings let us first inquire, in a more general way, concerning THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

1st. WHEREIN DOES THE POWER OF THAT BLOOD LIE?
2nd. WHAT HAS THAT POWER ACCOMPLISHED?
3rd. HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE ITS EFFECTS?

CHAPTER 3
Reconciliation Through the Blood
” Being justified freely by his grace through the REDEMPTION that is in Christ Jesus, whom God bath set forth as a PROPITIATION through faith in his blood.”— iii. 24,25.

As we have seen, several distinct blessings have been procured for us by the power of the blood of Jesus, which are all included in the one word ” REDEMPTION.” Among these blessings, RECONCILIATION takes the first place. ” God hath set forth Jesus as a RECONCILIATION through faith in his blood.” In our Lord’s work of REDEMPTION, RECONCILIATION naturally comes first. It stands first also among the things the sinner has to do, who desires to have a share in REDEMPTION. Through it, a participation in the other blessings of Redemption is made possible.

It is of great importance also, that the believer, who has already received RECONCILIATION, should obtain a deeper, and more spiritual conception of its meaning, and blessedness. If the power of the blood in REDEMPTION is rooted in RECONCILIATION, then a fuller knowledge of what RECONCILIATION is, is the surest way to obtain a fuller experience of the power of the blood. The heart that is surrendered to the teaching of the Holy Spirit will surely learn what RECONCILIATION means. May our hearts be opened wide to receive it.

To understand what RECONCILIATION BY THE BLOOD means let us consider:
1. SIN, WHICH HAS MADE RECONCILIATION NECESSARY.
2. GOD’S HOLINESS WHICH FORE-ORDAINED IT;
3. THE BLOOD OF JESUS WHICH OBTAINED IT;
4. THE PARDON WHICH RESULTS FROM IT.
5. SIN, WHICH MADE RECONCILIATION NECESSARY.

CHAPTER IV
Cleansing Through the Blood
“If ye walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”-I John i. 7

WE have already seen that the most important effect of the Blood is RECONCILIATION for sin.

The fruit of knowledge about, and faith in RECONCILIATION, is the PARDON of sin. Pardon is just a declaration of what has already taken place in heaven on the sinner’s behalf, and his hearty acceptance of it.

This first effect of the Blood is not the only one. In proportion as the soul, through faith, yields itself to the Spirit of God to understand and enjoy the full power of RECONCILIATION, the Blood exerts a further power, in the imparting of the other blessings which, in Scripture, are attributed to it.

One of the first results of RECONCILIATION is CLEANSING FROM SIN. Let us see what God’s Word has to say about this. CLEANSING is often spoken about, among us, as if it were no more than the pardon of sins, or the cleansing from guilt. This, however, is not so. Scripture does not speak of being CLEANSED FROM GUILT. CLEANSING from sin means deliverance from the pollution, not from the guilt of sin. The guilt of sin concerns our relationship to God, and our responsibility to make good our misdoings,-or to bear the punishment of them. The pollution of sin, on the other hand, is the sense of defilement and impurity, which sin brings to our inner being, and it is with this that CLEANSING has to do.

It is of the greatest importance for every believer who desires to enjoy the full salvation which God has provided for him, to understand aright what the Scriptures teach about this CLEANSING.

Let us consider :
I. WHAT THE WORD CLEANSING MEANS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?
II. WHAT IS THE BLESSING INDICATED BY THAT WORD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?
III. HOW MAY WE EXPERIENCE THE FULL ENJOYMENT OF THIS BLESSING?
IV. CLEANSING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

CHAPTER V
Sanctification Through the Blood
“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with bis own blood, suffered without the gate”-Heb. xiii. 12.
“Cleansing through the blood” was the subject of our last chapter.

SANCTIFICATION THROUGH THE BLOOD must now occupy our attention.
To a superficial observer it might seem that there is little difference between CLEANSING and SANCTIFICATION, that the two words mean about the same thing ; but the difference is great and important.

CLEANSING has to do chiefly with the old life, and the stain of sin which must be removed, and is only preparatory.
SANCTIFICATION concerns the new life and that ,characteristic of it which must be imparted to it by God. SANCTIFICATION, which means union with God, is the peculiar fulness of blessing purchased for us by the blood.
Let us then consider :
I. WHAT SANCTIFICATION IS.
II. THAT IT WAS THE GREAT OBJECT OF THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.
III. THAT IT CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH THE BLOOD.
IV. WHAT SANCTIFICATION IS.

CHAPTER 8
Life in the Blood
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, 1 say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink bis blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life ; and 1 will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 1-Ie that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him “-John vi. 5 35 6.
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?”-i Cor. x. 16.

The drinking of the blood of the Lord Jesus is the subject brought before us in these words. Just as water has a twofold effect, so is it also with this holy blood.

When water is used for washing it cleanses, but if we drink it we are refreshed and revived. He who desires to know the full power of the blood of Jesus must be taught by Him what the blessing of drinking the blood is. Everyone knows the difference there is between washing and drinking. Necessary and h Pleasant as it is to use water for cleansing, it is much more necessary and reviving to drink it. Without its cleansing it is not possible to live as we ought; but without drinking we cannot live at all. It is only by drinking that we enjoy the full benefit of its power to sustain life.

Without drinking the blood of the Son of God– is without the most hearty appropriation of it— life cannot be obtained.

To many there is something unpleasant in the phrase “drinking the blood of the Son of man,” but it was still more disagreeable to the Jews, for the use of blood was forbidden by the law of Moses, under severe penalties. When Jesus spoke of “drinking his blood,” it naturally annoyed them-but it was an unspeakable offence to their religious feelings. Char Lord, we may be sure, would not have used the phrase, had He been able otherwise to make plain to them, and to us, the deepest and most glorious truths concerning salvation by the blood.

In seeking to become partakers of the salvation here spoken of, as “DRINKING THE BLOOD OF OUR LORD”let us endeavour to understand:-

I. WHAT THE BLESSING IS, WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS. “DRINKING THE BLOOD.”
II. HOW THIS BLESSING IS WROUGHT OUT IN US.
III. WHAT SHOULD BE OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS IT.
IV. WHAT THE BLESSING IS WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS “DRINKING THE BLOOD.”

CHAPTER 9
Victory Through the Blood
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony ; and they loved not their Uves unto death “-Rev. xii. i i .

FOR thousands of years there had been a mighty conflict for the possession of mankind, between the Old Serpent, who led man astray, and ” The seed of the woman.”

Often it seemed as though the kingdom of God had come in power; then at other times the might of evil obtained such supremacy that the strife appeared to be hopeless.

It was thus also in the life of our Lord Jesus. By His coming, His wonderful words and works, the most glorious expectations of a speedy redemption were awakened. How terrible was the disappointment which the death of Jesus brought to all who had believed in Him! It seemed, indeed, as if the powers of darkness had conquered, and had established them kingdom for ever.

Revelation 12:11(KJV) 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

CHAPTER 10

Heavenly Joy Through the Blood

“After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number . . . which stood before the throne, and before the Lamb. . . and they cried with a loud voice saying, g Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.’ These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb “-Rev. vii. 9-z4.

End Times Witnessing: The Holy Spirit conducted today’s Sunday School for the watchman

Early on Sunday morning, around 1:35am the watchman went to pick up someone returning from a Jesus Heal Rally. By the time he got home it was 2:30am and he could not sleep. So he decided to stay up and pray and seek the Lord’s guidance about the day’s class in the afternoon.

He was led to read Joshua 5:2-15 on the Lord’s instructions to Joshua to prepare to lead the Israelites second generation who grew up in the wilderness into the promised land. The preparation was in the following three steps:

1. Joshua was asked to circumcise the entire male population, as a covenant reestablishment ceremony. The watchman was drawn to this verse after they have obeyed, “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” (5:9) In the New Testament, Jesus came and took away the shame and bondages of His believers and led them (us) from the kingdom of darkness (Satan’s kingdom) into the kingdom of light (the kingdom of God). Prior to this privilege, one has to repent. The believers of Jesus have to repent first before they receive the kingdom citizenship. (The requirement and power of repentance has been written in the watchman’s previous blogs)

2. The second step was celebrating Passover. The first Passover (Exodus 12:23) was carried out on their last night in bondage under the Egyptians. When the angel of death saw the blood of the lamb on the top and sides of the doorframe of the Israelite homes, he would pass over their homes. In the New Testament, Jesus had shed His blood on the cross for the remission of the sins of many, and He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. When He instituted the Holy Communion for His disciples, He pronounced this over the wine: “This is my blood for the new covenant, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins.”

3. The third step was Joshua’s encounter with the Lord (Jesus), the Commander of the Lord’s Armies. Joshua immediately fell with his face to the ground in reverence and worshipped Him, waiting for the Lord’s instructions. For Christians this is the worship in truth and in Spirit.

The watchman was then led to read the famous Fall of Jericho in Chapter Six. He was asked by the Lord to read all the details of the Lord’s instructions requiring Joshua to lead his people to march round the fortified city of Jericho, and he noted the number of days and times they marched round, those (priests, armed men, and people) who marched, their order of marching, what they carried and did (e.g. the priests marching in the presence of the Lord, blowing the ram horns as they marched, with the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant followed behind, some armed men marched in front of the Ark and some behind). the people were required to shout on the seventh day, seventh round when they heard the long blast of horns and when Joshua commanded, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the town!” When Joshua and his people obeyed, indeed Jericho walls collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. (6:20) “They completely destroyed everything in it with their swords.” (6:21)

After reading this and praying for sometime he went to bed. When he woke he took Holy Communion and was led to read Peter’s account in Acts 11:9 “Do not call anything unclean if God has made it clean.” 11:17 “And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?” 11:18 “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.” The verses prompted him to repent for himself and his family for not being sensitive to the Lord’s heart to save all. Jesus’ blood was shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.

When he reached the church an intercessor leader suddenly requested a sister to lead the congregation to repent. However, when the worship leader came in he did not know this and he went ahead and started the worship. He sang in the Spirit and then led one song. Before the Holy Communion he asked the watchman to pray the opening prayer. the watchman had earlier received in his spirit that the day’s worship is to reveal the Father’s heart. The sister who was supposed to lead the repentance prayer nudged him and whispered, “Repentance!” He obeyed and started with words of repentance and subsequent words just gushed out like never before. He heard amens. He remembered what he read earlier in Acts. He saw the Father’s heart unfolding His love for many, indeed, the lost multitudes out there, outside the walls of the churches, and the living dead in churches. He also prayed from Ephesians 4:3-5, using words like “one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one baptism, one God and Father”.

After the opening prayer, they had Holy Communion. The sister who interpreted the leader’s English words omitted important words like ‘Blood”, “Jesus”, ‘Cross”. The watchman had to interrupt and cried out the correct words which he believed were all crucial for the majority of the congregation who do not understand English to partake the Holy Communion correctly. He did not have time for decorum at that moment. There was an urgency in his spirit and he knew something important was going to happen.

When they resumed worship the leader led them to sing a song of marching. “We are marhcing in the light of God”. A number of the congregation were carrying big flags and most others carried small flags. One sister came and asked him whether they should march round and he said yes. So they started marching with their ram horns and flags, urging the rest of the congregation to join them. As the congregation sang and marched round, ram horns were being blown. Then the song leader led the song “Shout for joy, God’s people…for the Lord has given this land to you”. So the congregation marched, blew ram horns and shouted at the point when the song leader sang “Shout for Joy!”

Later, at the afternoon class, as the watchman shared with the participants how he was led to read Joshua chapters 5-6 early in the morning, he put all the pieces together and realized in amazement that the Lord had actually let him see the whole worship event through Joshua 5-6 about 7-8 hours before it happened. In fact the following worship sequence today was exactly as what was written in the two chapters!

1. Repentance Prayer (the act of circumcision at Gilgal)

2. Holy Communion- the body and blood of Jesus (the taking of the Passover Lamb)

3. Worship in Spirit and in Truth (Joshua’s Encounter with the Lord -the Commander of the Lord’s Armies- and his worshipful prostrating himself before the Lord)

4. Marching songs sung and actual marching procession with ram horns, flags and shouting by the congregation (Jericho march).

It was indeed awesome. In answer to his early morning prayer on how to conduct his class and what to teach today, the Lord has used the worship service to demonstrate to him how a class should be taught. First he was shown the Bible truth. Then he witnessed the practical application. He has to admit later that only the Holy Spirit could mobilize the leaders and the congregation to flow exactly according to the Word of God that morning!

For the first time since many months ago, there was a breakthrough in today’s afternoon class. In the sleepiest hours after lunch, the eyes of the participants were wide open and the participative and interactive learning was led by the Lord’s Spirit. Afterall, the walls in each individual’s heart had already been pulled down that morning during the march!

Sunday, July 31, 2011

End Times Witnessing: Be Baptized while there is Today!

The watchman was led to require all to say the sinners’ prayer again. He obeyed. Someone just died. He repented just in time. A lot more have not even been baptized. No one really know whether they have accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord or not. The come to church at least once weekly or fortnightly. They say they are Christians. But a number of times he noted that whenever the sermon were going to be evangelical or when the Gospel of Christ was due to be preached they happened to be absent. Yet they take Holy Communion and desire the filling and power of the Holy Spirit and all the signs and wonders and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

On one occasion he asked the Lord about such a person, he was led to read Acts 8 on the account of a sorcerer named Simon who was fascinated by the signs and great miracles Apostle Philip performed. He even offered money so he could have the power to lay hands on people so they would receive the Holy Spirit through him!

He asked the Lord what to do and he was asked to pray for their salvation. So he did for awhile. Then last night he was led to ask all to repeat the sinners’ prayer after him. After that he urged all to receive baptism as a mark of submission to the Lord Jesus who Himself went through water baptism too. he wondered if they would listen.

Today he looked up verses in the New Testament about baptism. He prayed that those who do not think they want to baptize because they do not want to commit their lives to a corporate body of Christ think twice. Baptism is for unity in the One body of Christ (See Ephesians 4 below). When taking Holy Communion you have also included yourself in the One body of Christ. How can you want to take Holy Communion and yet do not want to be baptized? (If you are not taking the Holy Communion in One Spirit and One Body of Christ with the other believers in Christ Jesus you are wasting your time here!)

His advice to those who do not want to commit to this church yet is ”go today and find your church and be truly a part of the Body of Christ. There may not be tomorrow for you and/or your loved ones. Seek and you shall find!” (Hebrews 3:15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”)

Baptism verses from the Bible_________
Matt. 28:19
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (The Lord Jesus commanded baptism for those who are saved )

Mark 16:16
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
(When you believe you need to show your faith by baptism)

John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
(It is a requirement for entrance into the kingdom of God)

John 3:22
John Testifies Again About Jesus
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.
(Jesus Himself and His disciples practiced baptism)

John 4:1
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—

Acts 1:22
22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
(Baptism is identification with Jesus’ death and resurrection)

Ephesians 4:5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
(Baptism is an act of unity with the Body of Christ)

Colossians 2:12
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
(Baptism identified with Christ’ burial and resurrection)

1 Peter 3:21
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
(Baptism saves you!)

Ephesians 4

Unity in the Body

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

End Times Witnessing: the faith that raises the dead

The watchman has been quiet for sometime. The July month events had been like a mighty torrent that swept through the spiritual realm and he was overwhelmed. Indeed, he went through the season swimming in the tides of the Spirit and has been led to enter another level of spiritual realm. The evangelical and healing rally has brought him to deeper waters. The message of the book that he was asked to assist editing brought the reality of spiritual warfare to him. The reality became real in his daily living and he is now confronted with the moment of truth.

The big question is: is he going to trust God 100%?

If his answer is affirmative, he has to let go of all medicine. He now begins to understand how others must have felt when they came for divine healing. How to have faith if they perceive physical symptoms being different from those of a healed person? On the other hand, faith means just believe what the words of God say (including the reality of spiritual realm).


He was led to read Romans this morning. He sat at the attic window, facing the line of beautiful trees basked in golden sunshine outside, used a mike and amplifier with speakers and read God’s words treating them as medicine. Indeed, as he persisted, the symptoms on his body became more and more bearable! Before he realised it, he read through nearly all of Romans.

After that he went downstairs and ate a hearty sandwich with mozzarella cheese! In his New Living Translation Bible the following passage has brightened his day:

Romans 14:6-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

_________________________________

The following speaks to the watchman about what true faith is. The faith that is required is a faith that persists against all odds in the physical realm. What can a 100 year old man do? Yet Abraham persists in believing God and His words. Abraham has seen into the spiritual realm, the unseen reality that many other men have overlooked. He believed in the Creator. He did not limit his sight to the fallen creatures (including human beings).

This is the first of the watchman’s role models. Abraham, the father of the people of faith. Read this chapter. Proclaim it loud. speak into the spiritual realm. Let your faith rise too.
__________________________________

Romans 4 New Living Translation (NLT)
The Faith of Abraham

Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:

7 “Oh, what joy for those

whose disobedience is forgiven,

whose sins are put out of sight.

8 Yes, what joy for those

whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. 10But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!

11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. 14 If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. 15For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.”This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Footnotes:

1.Romans 4:3 Gen 15:6.

2.Romans 4:8 Ps 32:1-2 (Greek version).

3.Romans 4:9 Greek is this blessing only for the circumcised, or is it also for the uncircumcised?

4.Romans 4:17 Gen 17:5.

5.Romans 4:18 Gen 15:5.

Watchman’s Adventure: Breakthrough from mental health into spiritual health perspectives

Having spent the previous night with brethren in Christ interceding, the watchman could still feel the heaviness in his spirit on the next morning. The more he hears of others’ familial problems, the more he realizes how much inroad the enemy has made into the lives of human beings. Practically every family (Christians no exception) has been infiltrated! The frightening part is that the Christians are not even aware of this spiritual infiltration and carry on their daily lives just like any other ‘dysfunctional’ pre-believer’s family, constantly in strife, division, anger, even mutual hatred and torment!

In mental health, such families are described as dysfunctional or malfunctioning. The members involved are described as having mental and emotional issues which require treatment (medicine and psycho-therapy). Such individuals are termed certain psychological terms (e.g. having depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders etc.). However, like studying and knowing medicine does not make one an effective doctor, having read and completed his postgraduate study including psychology and therapy has not made the watchman a more effective counselor. For years he has seen hopeless cases of human being forsaken by their families because they cannot be effectively treated to full recovery to fit into the society (to live the life their family expect them to live).

This significant group of human beings have their needs to be accepted by the society and their families and be loved too. They are often rejected, overlooked, and neglected by their families and the society at large. The reason why they are not easily accepted is because they cannot ‘function’ the way of the ‘norm’.

The family and society expect every one to fit into a pattern termed ‘functioning’. Deviations are termed ‘dysfunctioning’. Compliance to the ‘norm’ means ‘functioning’. The ‘norm’ is set by a group of people living together (e.g. a family, community, organization, society, nation).

What are the contents of the ‘norm’ of a family? Basic agreements and rules on hygiene, meals, housework, discipline, work and play, education and manners, relationship, communication, use of common resources and facilities, contributions, interactions, attitudes, values, beliefs, morals, behaviors, attitudes of living together and sharing, maintenance of the common living environment and shelter etc.

The watchman has found that in nearly every family there is a number (at least one-fourth) of people who cannot fit into the ‘norm’ required. Social, medical and psychological solutions cannot help those that he knows of. He has even once been given the task of rehabilitating an ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactive disorder) boy with LD (learning disorder) and OD (opposition disorder). For three years he battled with the symptoms with social, educational, and behavioral modification tools. He saw some positive physical results. But when the boy entered pre-teen, he rebelled in an uncontrollable way. He threw out everything he had learned. He obstructed violently against every effort to help him to ‘function’! He was hooked on to digital games like an addict to drugs (during which his heart rate went way beyond the ‘norm’ to dangerous high!)

The watchman was led to find a spiritual solution. The principal (a Christian pastor) of the boy’s school introduced him to a prayer house where the boy can receive prayers for supernatural healing and deliverance. The healing treatment consists of three parts: the presence of God (worship service), word of God (reading the Bible), and prayers. Nothing is out of the ordinary but people do get healed this way.

The only difference between such a place and the traditional church is the presence of God (in the Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit does the work of healing, deliverance and sanctification. The word of God does the daily washing and cleansing. The redemptive work of Jesus on the cross is daily remembered through the Holy Communion as taught by the Lord too.

Although the boy soon decided to re-join his own parents, the watchman has stayed on in his journey in the Holy Spirit. He has experienced personal breakthrough.

Indeed, knowing the reality of the spiritual realm and how a Christian believer can effectively overcome his physical realm difficulties with spiritual authority and supernatural power according to the word of God, is a great relief. Breaking through from mental health into spiritual (divine) health perspectives is an absolute essential for any Christian counselor.

The battlefield is in the minds. How do we reach the minds to do battle? Only in the Spirit. God’s word is the sword of the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit is another essential weapon!

_________________________________Bible verses
Ephesians 6:12
New Living Translation (NLT)

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:13-18
New Living Translation (NLT)

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
New Living Translation (NLT)

3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Watchman’s Comfort: Good news to those who are desolate today

The watchman decided to sleep early so he could rise early. Indeed it worked and overcame his recent inability to rise at the appointed hours to meet His Lord. This morning was the second experimental day and he was refreshed by the presence of the Lord (the Spirit of Christ).


He proceeded to intercede and read the words of God, listening to the Holy Spirit. There were two major events that needed fervent prayers and supplications, both of which required grace and mercy from God. As soon as he started he was led to read Isaiah. The book opened to chapter 62, from which flow beautiful, assuring verses for a person who really needs such comfort! The Heavenly Father knows exactly what one needs and sends forth His resources -His words! How wonderful and awesome our God is!

(He even posted watchmen on your walls to make sure you are well guarded!)

Isaiah 62 (NLT)
Isaiah’s Prayer for Jerusalem


1 Because I love Zion,

I will not keep still.

Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem,

I cannot remain silent.

I will not stop praying for her


until her righteousness shines like the dawn,


and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.


2 The nations will see your righteousness.

World leaders will be blinded by your glory.

And you will be given a new name


by the Lord’s own mouth.

3 The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—

a splendid crown in the hand of God.

4 Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City”[a]


or “The Desolate Land.”[b]


Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight”[c]


and “The Bride of God,”[d]

for the Lord delights in you


and will claim you as his bride.

5 Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem,

just as a young man commits himself to his bride.

Then God will rejoice over you

as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

6 O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls;


they will pray day and night, continually.


Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.


7 Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work,


until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.

8 The Lord has sworn to Jerusalem by his own strength:

“I will never again hand you over to your enemies.

Never again will foreign warriors come

and take away your grain and new wine.

9 You raised the grain, and you will eat it,

praising the Lord.

Within the courtyards of the Temple,

you yourselves will drink the wine you have pressed.”

10 Go out through the gates!

Prepare the highway for my people to return!

Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders;

raise a flag for all the nations to see.

11 The Lord has sent this message to every land:

“Tell the people of Israel,[e]

‘Look, your Savior is coming.


See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”


12 They will be called “The Holy People”


and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.”


And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place”


and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”

Footnotes:

a.Isaiah 62:4 Hebrew Azubah, which means “forsaken.”

b.Isaiah 62:4 Hebrew Shemamah, which means “desolate.”

c.Isaiah 62:4 Hebrew Hephzibah, which means “my delight is in her.”

d.Isaiah 62:4 Hebrew Beulah, which means “married.”

e.Isaiah 62:11 Hebrew Tell the daughter of Zion.

Amplified Bible Isa.62:4 "You [Judah] shall no more be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land be called Desolate any more. But you shall be called Hephzibah [My delight is in her], and your land be called Beulah [married]; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married [owned and protected by the Lord]."