End Times Investment: Advice from the richest man

The watchman has to deal with a number of important sales of assets and investment decisions lately. He asked the Holy Spirit for guidance. So this morning at 12.01am he was woken and led to read the following passage and again the whole book of Ecclesiastes with freshness. amazing. The richest man ever gave his personal advice in reply to his humble request.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

New Living Translation (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 11

The Uncertainties of Life

¹ Send your grain across the seas,
and in time, profits will flow back to you.^[a]
2 But divide your investments among many places,^[b]
for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.
³ When clouds are heavy, the rains come down.
Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.
⁴ Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.
⁵ Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb,^[c] so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.
⁶ Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.

Footnotes:

1. Ecclesiastes 11:1 Or Give generously, / for your gifts will return to you later. Hebrew reads Throw your bread on the waters, / for after many days you will find it again.
2. Ecclesiastes 11:2 Hebrew among seven or even eight.
3. Ecclesiastes 11:5 Some manuscripts read Just as you cannot understand how breath comes to a tiny baby in its mother’s womb.

End Times Witnessing: Famine Years – Bad to Worse

One day before the stock market plummeted, while praying a routine prayer for his family, the watchman was led in the spirit to read the following passages: 2 Kings Chapters 6,7, and 8:1-6. It was indeed awesome when he saw the headline the next day!

Summary:

6:1-7 th floating axe head. He has not yet received the meaning of this passage in relation to his family. But he found relevance in the statement from the disciple prophets to Prophet Elisha that “this place where we meet with you is too small. let’s go…there we can build a new place for us to meet.” Indeed lately he has run out of rooms in his house for the sudden arrival of the younger generations.

6:24-7:20 Samaria was besieged but the lepers plundered the enemy’s camp. There was a great famine in the city. But God intervened and caused the enemy to flee for their lives, abandoning all their possessions to Israel. Overnight there was a drastic drop in market prices!

8:1-6 This is about a woman from Shunem whom Elisha advised to leave home with her family during the seven years of famine and after the end of which returned home to re-claim her house and land successfully. She was even compensated for the values of the harvest of her crops during the period of her absence.
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The watchman suggested that readers SEEK GOD NOW for your own situation and direction for the famine years. Decode the above passages yourselves.

End Times Witnessing: How a watchman got a tip for Investment at end times

The watchman has had busy night discourses with the Holy Spirit lately. He received replies and clarifications to questions he asked about end times signs. he was told to get out of bed this morning at 6am even though he has just gone to bed at 3am! However, in view of the urgency he got up and went to his prayer attic. In future it may be useful if he could just sleep there and wait for the Spirit call.

Today’s topic is part of his revelations on end times personnel and strategies for survival. On the previous day he has asked the Lord what to invest as he has spent half a day studying the market and found nothing to invest! But he could not go on parking funds in the bond market or worse in Banks’ demand deposit accounts. Then he heard the word, ‘Joseph’ when he was driving. He discussed this issue at length with the Lord as he thought he could not possibly find suitable grain or other staple food stocks worth investing. In any case the stocks (papers ownership) would be useless when the man of lawlessness (via totalitarian state control) takes over practically everything. He could not start buying up grains and stock them as Joseph did. He could not buy and physically supervise farms and lands producing grains or other essential produce for end times survival. The conversation or rather monologue was futile. He thought he has heard wrongly.

He woke after an hour sleep and discovered that he was still in conversation in his dream with the Lord asking for further clarifications. He is like the bull dog who hangs on to the bitten object after just one bite. He would not let go like the two blind men outside Jericho who cried to the Lord Jesus for mercy (to attract His attention to heal their blindness) even louder when others yelled at them to be quiet. Indeed, two hours later he got the answer and so he jumped out of bed!

The answer is these are the ones to be raised at end times: Jabez, Joseph etc. They are the strategic pieces placed at various positions ready to be operative. Then the watchman realizes that he has received messages not necessarily for his own tiny little world but a big picture overall. The messages are like the visions he saw, to answer his question about the big picture of Christian future.

This is of course just a tip without detail. He is asked to read the Bible and let the Holy Spirit decode the message. Without the Teacher Himself, he is unable to proceed further on this important topic.

However, it is still relevant to summarize some characteristics of the Biblical Joseph:

1. He is a very unlikely candidate for high and powerful political and economic position in an alien country.

2. He suffered unusual prolonged hardship under which a lesser (godless) being would have collapsed or being crushed much earlier.

3. He is placed in extremely tested positions/situations before his opportunity for breakthrough comes.

4. He well positions himself next to the most powerful man by sheer diligence, faithfulness and wisdom (through his belief and faith in God, determination to live honorably before God) in every situation. Every level of servitude is a school of useful learning and practical stepping stone for him for the next level.

5. He is ready for any opportunity that offers him the elevation he needs and is able to shine like a precious diamond once his dust is removed.

Today’s Joseph may come from any regions or any public or private sectors. The watchman suggests that he probably has access to any strategic organizations that are positioned to control staple food supply. How? This is not for the watchman to answer.

Intercessor/watchman’s role is to pray for many godly Josephs to surface and rise to the occasions as they have already been well positioned. Pray for accurate discernment of the signs of the time and spiritual clarity to execute their operational role faithfully, thus saving many just as Biblical Joseph did three thousands five hundred years ago.

Prayer is the only spiritual key to start the physical engine into operation. O watchman, watch and pray!

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Bible Verses “the Lord was with Joseph”:

1. Genesis 39:2
   The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.
   Genesis 39:1-3 (in Context) Genesis 39 (Whole Chapter)
2. Genesis 39:3
   Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.
   Genesis 39:2-4 (in Context) Genesis 39 (Whole Chapter)
3. Genesis 39:21
   But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.
   Genesis 39:20-22 (in Context) Genesis 39 (Whole Chapter)
4. Genesis 39:23
   The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. TheLord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
   Genesis 39:22-23 (in Context) Genesis 39 (Whole Chapter)
5. Deuteronomy 33:13
   Moses said this about the tribes of Joseph:“May their land be blessed by the Lord with the precious gift of dew from the heavensand water from beneath the earth;
   Deuteronomy 33:12-14 (in Context) Deuteronomy 33 (Whole Chapter)
6. Joshua 17:14
   The descendants of Joseph came to Joshua and asked, “Why have you given us only one portion of land as our homeland when the Lord has blessed us with so many people?”
   Joshua 17:13-15 (in Context) Joshua 17 (Whole Chapter)
7. Judges 1:22
   The descendants of Joseph attacked the town of Bethel, and the Lordwas with them.

Gen. 41: 37-44  Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt

³⁷ Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. ³⁸ So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” ³⁹Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. ⁴⁰ You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”

⁴¹ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” ⁴² Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. ⁴⁴ And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Management according to Jack (part two)

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

Management pearls for Christians according to Jack

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

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