Journey in the Holy Spirit: being spiritual

Because this blog is all about God, I am reluctant to say much about my own thoughts or sharing my life. But I have been witnessing the increasing chasm between the spiritual and carnal Christians (those who are more accustomed to use their five senses) all over the world. So I have decided to share a bit here, despite the limitation of my words.
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I have lived in different parts of the world and have encountered different customs and cultures for the bulk of my life.
In the last ten years I have gradually encountered the reality of the holy God in the Spirit, in the Bible and in life. I realized what it means to have the reverent fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). This means agreeing the spiritual existence of absolute good and evil and the final accountability everyone must give to the holy God, who abhors things done not of the Spirit, but out of man’s flesh or carnality.
Jesus has Himself declared, the ruler of this world has nothing in Him. His disciples followed the same principle.

When one aligns with God, one does not yearn to be the same as the Jones. What do Christians have to do with evil? Why bring in their customs and cultures which are abominations in the eyes of the holy God? God wants us set apart for Him, away from the world and its customs, just as He had warned the Israel people. 
Being spiritual means we live in awareness of two realms: the physical and the spiritual. The spiritual reality governs the physical. All customs and cultures have a spiritual realm where the spiritual rulers rule and direct their adherents’ lives. Apostle Paul had revealed this truth in Ephesians 6:12.
Our Lord Jesus warned the disciples to be spiritually discerning when sending them into the world! “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrew as snakes and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) Jesus was talking about the physical as well as spiritual enemies. Why? Because they were stepping into spiritual enemy’s territory as they go out and witness for Jesus!

The pagans know better about the spiritual. They are wise on what to avoid and when. For example, different cultures round the world have their own ‘ghost’ festivals. The Chinese called the Halloween in the West, the Westerners’ ‘ghost’ night, the night when the evil spirits paraded, (like the Chinese July month when hell opened its gates and let the hungry demons come out) and they avoid going out that night! Other pagan religions too have their own ghost periods and festivals.
A spiritually discerning person can see spirits. They see spirits in unclean houses, the streets, schools, offices, hospitals, shopping malls, movie theaters, and funeral parlors. A normally fit and healthy rational German Christian man recently testified that he walked under the air vent of a shopping mall, and saw this huge black thing coming at him, entered and went through him. He was instantly hit with severe pain and collapsed on the floor. His wife and daughter who regularly attend a Spirit-filled, Bible believing and adhering church, took authority using the name of Jesus, prayed fervently, as he lied there near dead, gasping for breath. he finally survived. The experience was traumatic.
When Christians stay away from certain locations during certain time, they merely obey the leading of the Spirit of the Lord, who is holy. The evil spirits know too whether you are walking in the Holy Spirit or not. The seven sons of the priest were attacked by the evil spirit because they knew Jesus and apostle Paul walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, but this group of exorcists did not. This group of believers were trying to do the right thing, casting demon, using the mighty name of the Lord Jesus. But they were not sent by the Lord. They went on their own flesh and of course they suffered the terrible consequences.
When God sent Moses to Egypt to confront Pharaoh, the Lord gave him spiritual power to overcome the territorial evil spirits controlling the land there. When the prophet Samuel patrolled the Israel land he was just one man, but the territorial spirit of the Philistines feared him, because he walked in the Spirit of the Lord. None of his words fell to the ground. He merely spoke and the words took effect.
Unless we are sent by the Lord and walk in discernment of the spiritual realm and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we do not do exploits. This is what I have learned over thirty years being a born again Christian, after having suffered immense loss.
So what shall an ordinary Christian do? Find out more about the reality of God and His words, the Bible. The Bible cannot be read as a knowledge book. Do not rationalize away the real meaning and purpose of the holy words. Jesus has warned clearly, as the pharisees and other religious leaders, even His own followers/disciples did not believe in the spiritual reality of Jesus and what Jesus has represented. Read the four Gospels again. Ask the Lord Holy Spirit to guide you. Daily pray the prayers of apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians (1:16-23; 3:14-21).
What happens if some still cannot hear the Holy Spirit? I believe in the grace and mercy of God. Keep seeking to know God, keep asking His Spirit to reveal to you. For a start, daily praying the Lord’s Prayer can help you a lot, if you believe!
John 6:61-65 (NKJV)
⁶¹ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵ And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

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Hell is real!

Introducing “A dictionary for navigators on spiritual rough waters”

The watchman has been assigned a task. Here

is the result (in parts) – a dictionary for the word of God, as led by the Holy Spirit.There is a new dictionary which is not exactly new. It has been hidden to many who do not venture into the spiritual realm. The mindman has discovered this new way of reading words, really important words, the words of God. So he begins his real journey on the rough uncharted waters.

Here are some of the new meanings of words or phrases he has found on the way. Enjoy your own navigation through the spiritual mind journey!
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Anger: it means murder when you think anger in your mind concerning your fellow Christians.
Matthew 5:21-23 (NKJV) Murder Begins in the Heart ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.²³ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Bravery: If you think of men and fear them and do what they like you to do, you are  a coward. Only when you mind the matters of God and do the will of God regardless what men may say or do to you, you are considered brave, Jesus is the best example of bravery. Peter is a typical example of the opposite.
(Matthew 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Matthew 16:22-24 (in Context)  Matthew 16 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations )
Consider: means accounting action. Many think this is just a matter of thinking in your mind. But in the new dictionary it means real action. For example, it is same as the word count or account. When you consider something in your mind your account in heaven starts updating with debits and credits being input into it!

 Romans 6:11 (EXB) | In Context | Whole Chapter ¹¹ In the same way, you should ·see [count; consider] yourselves as being dead to ·the power of sin [^Lsin] and alive ·with [to; with reference to] God ·through [or in; in union with] Christ Jesus.

Defile: it means even your thoughts are action words. Mark 7:20-23 (ESV) ²⁰ And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²² coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Excellence: come in two forms: the power of God (the Holy Spirit); your spiritual knowledge of God.

• 2 Corinthians 4:7 [ Cast Down but Unconquered ]  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
• Philippians 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

http://freemindconfession.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/a-dictionary-for-navigators-on-spiritual-rough-waters/
http://freemindconfession.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/a-dictionary-for-navigators-on-spiritual-rough-waters-chapter-2-more-gems/
http://freemindconfession.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/a-dictionary-for-navigators-on-spiritual-rough-waters-background-explained/

Why does the spiritual mindman start this new journey to read God’s words? Because he has navigated the uncharted waters previously and known how tough it is to sail without a pilot or a navigation guide. So in this dictionary he records everything he perceives in his spirit to share with his spiritual novice friends and brethren. This is not a conventional Bible words dictionary. It is a compilation of his spiritual notes while reading the Bible.

There will be many more gems posted on the above spiritual mindman blog from time to time. Please look out for them. 

Be spiritual -overcome your unbelief

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

_______________________the letter

Dear sister (name):
This is my post on 24/6/2010. It is relevant to your question on how to overcome unbelief.

The key is to be sons of God, be overcomer like the Son of God Jesus Himself, who is focused on the spiritual reality and not allow the flesh to take dominion over the spirit man.

How to practice being spiritual? it takes a lot of time, persistence and patience waiting before God, like (names of persons who spend time before God)etc. Brother (name)'s sermon yesterday is on the same subject: imitate God and imitate those more spiritually mature (in faith).

The word of God is the presence of God (light, life, Spirit).

Many do not feed themselves enough of word and thus become weaker and weaker in faith and are swayed by the unbelief in their surrounding (people and events ruled by the enemy) in times of trials.
Brother in Christ.
_________________originally posted on 24/6/2010

There is no short cut to survive end times. You just need to be spiritual in the Biblical sense. Be a Supernatural Spiritual Christian!

Be Spiritual !

John 9:35 [ Spiritual Blindness ] Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
Romans 1:11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—
Romans 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
Romans 12:1 [ Living Sacrifices ] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Romans 15:27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

Spiritual Wisdom is Required of Believers

1 Corinthians 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:
1 Corinthians 3:1 [ On Divisions in the Church ] Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?
Galatians 6:1 [ Doing Good to All ] Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Partake spiritual food and drink

1 Corinthians 10:3 They all ate the same spiritual food
1 Corinthians 10:4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Given spiritual gifts

1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
1 Corinthians 12:1 [ Spiritual Gifts ] Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
1 Corinthians 14:1 [ Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues ] Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.

Spiritual body for eternal life

1 Corinthians 15:44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.If there is a natural body, there is also a Spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.

Sing spiritual songs

Ephesians 1:3 [ Spiritual Blessings in Christ ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Fight Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Build Spiritual House

1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

_______________October notes:

Only by being spiritual you can live a victorious life. God is Spirit. Jesus is Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Spirit.

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

End Times Watchman Bible Study: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

The watchman and his class found a dilemma in this verse. "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark9:24)

How can one have faith and still has doubt and unbelief at the same time? 

This requires immediate investigation. Many cannot receive the healing and deliverance from their diseases and weaknesses because of this contradiction in them. The watchman's study notes are in brackets.

Mark 9:14-32 

A Boy Is Healed

¹⁴ And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. ¹⁵ Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. ¹⁶ And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
¹⁷ Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. ¹⁸ And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

(A great multitude was there and they observed the physical condition of the sick boy and the failure of Jesus' disciples to cast out the mute demon from him. They were even arguing with the 'specialists' -scribes over the treatment of this medical or mental case. The disciples had been given authority and power by Jesus previously and had been successful in their healing ministry. So why did they fail this time? The patient's father of course complained to the master healer Himself. It was natural to react the way he did to failure and disappointment.) 

¹⁹ He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 

(Jesus was not addressing the faithless crowd of bystanders or the patient and his father. They did not know Him or His power. Many had not even heard the full Gospel of the Kingdom of God and of Christ. Jesus was addressing His own disciples who had followed Him and lived with Him and witnessed His supernatural power and deeds. They had heard the full Gospel. They had been given authority and power by Him. Note how Jesus described them.)

²⁰ Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
²¹ So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. ²² And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
²³ Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

(Note the conversation between the patient's father and Jesus. How can anyone be believing and not believing at the same time?  Was he telling lies? But the poor man was in tears. He was in front of a big crowd. Yet he continued pleading to Jesus to heal his son. So he must have heard of Jesus' power and believed that Jesus could do it. Yet, he admitted that he had unbelief. Amazing. This is the theme of today's message. Can we have faith and unbelief at the same time?)

²⁵ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” ²⁶ Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

(Note how simple the matter was. Jesus merely commanded and the evil spirit obeyed and came out of the boy. The boy might have looked terrible when he was possessed. But Jesus saw the evil spirit and not the patient. In the spiritual realm Jesus' authority is recognized and obeyed.) 

²⁸ And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
²⁹ So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." **

(Note the conversation between the disciples and Jesus. The disciples were still obsessed with their job failure. They were looking at the physical  (body and soul -mind and emotion) realm, the humiliation and inadequacy they felt in not delivering the required result.) But Jesus did not answer them about this 'job' or 'performance assessment'. He revealed the true condition of their spirits. They were still living within the paradigm of their physical and natural world. they were unable to believe that Jesus' Father (God)'s world is real, even though they could not see it. Jesus had taught them and demonstrated to them the reality of God and that He is from God. But their hearts were hardened by their preoccupation with the physical and natural and unbelief of the spiritual reality.)

Those who are not spiritually discerned cannot understand the things of God. God is Spirit. The Pharisees and Scribes cannot understand. Christians are expected to know and understand. But Many cannot. Why? Spiritual discernment comes from diligently seeking God, belief in the spiritual reality of God (and His word), being led by faith and not by sight. These are all essential in order to know and understand the matters of God, that is, the matters as revealed by the Holy Spirit (often through the word of God).


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**Notes on FASTING: This does not mean certain evil spirits are so powerful that the disciples cannot cast it out even by Jesus Name. The fasting is for the disciples to cast their own flesh and unbelief of God’s spiritual reality. Unbelief nullifies their use of the Name of Jesus and the authority therein over spiritual beings (e.g. evil spirits). They did not believe because they were walking by sight and not by faith. Their hearts were hardened by the world and worldly knowledge. They could not discern spiritual matters because they were not led by the Spirit.

Fasting deals with our flesh and carnal man.  
Being a disciple means we need to deny ourselves (body, mind and emotion and everything that makes up us in the physical natural realm), take up our cross and follow Christ daily. Only sons of God are led by the Holy Spirit. Only when we walk and live by the Spirit, can we discern spiritual matters and war in the spiritual realm, taking the authority of the name of the Son of God, Jesus effectively.

 

End Times Witnessing: Know your God in Spirit

The watchman was given a sudden assignment to share the word of God to a congregation. But he was involved in reading the Bible with a group of Christians who hunger for God’s words. His house was ‘crowded’ with people over that period and he could not sit down quietly before the Lord for a message. He was also fighting his own ‘war’ against some old symptoms, determined not to take any medicine.By the eve of the sermon he still had no message from the Lord and he knew he had nothing to preach the next morning. So he went to bed around 9pm.
At 12 midnight he was woken. He heard from the Lord the word: “God is Spirit.” He was asked to preach this truth. He got up and went to his ‘altar’, a table where the word of God had been read by many who joined them in regular Bible reading, ever since last year when he was alerted in his spirit to start this prophetic faith in action at the same time making disciples for the Lord Jesus.
It was not an easy topic to preach. How to prepare himself with only a few hours of sleep and a few hours left before dawn? He knew this was another occasion when Zechariah 4:6b must apply: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.” He obeyed and sat before the Lord, reading many verses from the book of John as led by the Spirit. By the time he knew he had to go back to bed it was 4am. He could not sleep again until 5am. So he had another 3 hours of sleep.
By the time he arrived, the leaders and some members of the congregation were praying in the Spirit. They prayed on with the flow of the Holy Spirit anointing. The regular worship leader and preacher were out of the country. However the worship that morning was Spirit led and many were ministered. The congregation moved with the flow of the Holy Spirit in unison as one body of Christ. When the words of God were preached, the anointed flow just continued and it was effortless. Indeed, the Lord God is Spirit! (John 4:23-24)
This reminded the watchman that last year when he was reading Psalm119 with the class he described the experience as “open eyes swimming in the river of God’s words seeing the wondrous things in His law” (Psa119:18). “The Lord writes His word on the living water so we submerge and soak in it and let osmosis take its supernatural course.”(So he wrote in a short message discourse with another intercessor).
Here are some of the verses the watchman shared with his congregation/class:
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God is Spirit : You need to know Him in Spirit and in Truth (You cannot use your physical eyes to see. You need spiritual eyes)

John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

1 Corinthians 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  

1 Corinthians 2:13 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
How to receive?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Romans 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
How to practice knowing God in your spirit?
1. Through Worship in the Spirit
John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
2. Through Partaking the Holy Communion
John 6:53-56 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
Matthew 26:26-28 Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
3. The Word of God by the Spirit
John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. John 8:42-43 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.”

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:47 He who is of God hears God’s words; John 8:51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

 John 5:39 39You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
4. Prayer in the Spirit
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
5. Divine Nature By God's Grace
2 Peter 1:1-4 Greeting the Faithful 1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

End Times Witnessing: He said: “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!”

The watchman heard this word today “Ephphatha!” He heard in his spirit that there are many today that need to hear this message. When he read this good news he proclaimed the words to those rows and rows of spiritually deaf people in the churches.

The Lord Jesus says, “Be opened!’ You can hear! Take authority of the Son of God, in the mighty name of Jesus, just bind and cast out the spirit of deafness in your soul. Then you can hear what the preacher is actually preaching. You will hear and discern whether he is preaching God’s words that give life to you or dead words from the flesh and the devil (see the evil spirits lurking behind the pulpit, or worse, through the eyes of the preacher).

Not only that, the good news (or bad news for some) is also for the dumb (preacher). “Be opened!” Henceforth you will only speak the oracles of God and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you speak anything else the spiritually woken congregation will smell the foul smell from your mouth. They will see the evil spirits or your own flesh oozing out from every pore.

These are very strong words. The watchman shuddered at his prayer. But time is short and he really needs to listen and obey the Lord. The blindness and deafness to the spiritual realm make Christians into sitting ducks while the enemy comes in to steal, kill and destroy. Lately many more had perished in intensity and quantity. So the message is a good news for those who want to live in the kingdom of God!

Wake up, O watchmen, watch and pray as the faithful servants of Jesus, our God, our Lord, our Savior, our Master.

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Mark 7:31-37

Jesus Heals a Deaf Man

31 Jesus left Tyre and went up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns. 32A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.

33 Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. 34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” 35Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!

36 Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news. 37 They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”

End Times Witnessing: Today it is all about Life

TODAY’S food for thought for watchman: Why ponder over LIFE?

What makes the watchman ponder about life today?
In the past four weeks four persons with whom the watchman had acquainted passed away, all of whom (three men and one woman) died a sudden death, in their 30s, 40s and 50s. All were married with family. The three men came from one church.

The news had been saddening and even shattering for the unprepared.

The oldest man had had remissions from his previous stroke and his family was not prepared as he had recovered his functioning well for a number of years. He left behind his wife, adult children and young grand children.

The youngest man had good report from his yearly medical check-up until the sudden discovery of end stage liver cancer. He decided to join his wife and became a Christian after receiving his medical diagnosis. He left behind his young wife and two young boys.
The middle-aged man had rarely complained of medical illness until he suddenly developed liver ailments. He became a Christian earlier than the other two men did. He and his wife became estranged after years of unresolved family strife. At his death, the wife and daughter had already left him for over a year. His only son came home from another town to handle the funeral on his own.

The woman had heard the Gospel a number of times but had not pursued further. She befriended a devout Buddhist and lately opted to listen to the chanting of Buddhist monk daily until her sudden death (aneurysm in her brain). She left behind husband and two daughters.

Yes, the spirit of death came stealthily in the darkest hour of the night and took their lives unexpectedly.

Seeing death coming in like a flood, taking one life per week within a tiny community of familiar people, makes one notice how fragile the physical part of life can be. Even though he had not seen them for many years, he attended two men’s wake night services. Listening to the usual wake night sermons made him think of the words of Jesus about the meaning of life according to God. Where does life come from? Who can give life? Where does one’s spirit go when life on earth is extinguished?

It is time to read the word of Jesus again, this time, with belief in our hearts. Take heed what we hear today!

Watchman’s advice: You need to believe in the supernatural and spiritual reality to understand this. There is one crucial condition for entry to heaven, as stated below by Jesus, the Son of God Himself:

John 3:3, 5 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Matthew 7:14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 10:39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Luke 10:25 [ The Parable of the Good Samaritan ] And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Luke 12:22 [ Do Not Worry ] Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Luke 12:23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Luke 21:34 [ The Importance of Watching ] “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 3:15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.John 5:24 [ Life and Judgment Are Through the Son ] “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

John 6:27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus prayed this to the Father (God): John 17:2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

_____________________________Word of warning:
Romans 8:5-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
____________________________________

Watchman’s comment: Often people do not know what they are worshiping. Letting one’s mind controlled by something (giving inroad to other spirits) that is not God leads to death. Very sad indeed. If you do not know God, seek to know Him. Meanwhile stay away from all forms of spirits (including spiritual philosophy).

Spiritual realm is real. God is real. Do not ignore this truth. Your family needs you. God loves you and wants you to have eternal life through His Son, who gave His life for you. Seek the true God who gives life now!

Three Battle grounds: the mind, the church and the heavenly places

The watchman had to wait for someone outside a Christian Bookshop one evening. As usual he waited in the car as he knew from experience and in the spirit that he could not find any suitable book there. However this time the Spirit prompted him to go in. He was led straight to a bookshelf which most Christian readers would not notice. There he bent down and found three Spirit-led must-read books. Alas, all were in another language.

He bought them anyway. When he finished reading the first book, he knew this is the book for his end times class to read this season. So he ordered the original which arrived a week later. He read the book and is now led to share with his blog readers. This is an essential text for all at this end time!


The Three Battlegrounds - An indepth view of the three arenas of spiritual warfare: the mind, the church and the heavenly places (by Francis Frangipane, 1989)

Here are some excerpts and quotations from the first three chapters of the book.

“This is a book about spiritual warfare.” “After spending much time with struggling pastors, I have seen a common trend in most: They failed to discern the assault of the evil. They stood unprotected against an ancient, treacherous foe.” “Jesus warned that the love of many would grow cold. Do not presume it cannot happen to you. Our enemy has been deceiving mankind for thousands of years. Our experience, on the other hand, spans but a brief moment. It is wisdom to recognize that we do not know all there is concerning warfare.”

Part One: The Battleground of the Mind

“Indeed, the uncrucified thought life is the beachhead of satanic assault in our lives. To defeat the devil, we must be renewed in the spirit of our minds!”

Chapter 1: Satan’s Domain: The Realm of Darkness

“Many Christians debate whether the devil is on the earth or in hell; can he dwell in Christians or only in the world? The fact is, the devil is in darkness. Wherever there is spiritual darkness, there the devil will be.”

“Jesus warned: “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness” (Luke 11:35)” “Satan has a legal access, given to him by God, to dwell in darkness. The devil can traffic in any area of darkness, even the darkness that still exists in a Christian’s heart.”

“If we will be effective in spiritual warfare, we must be discerning of our own hearts; we must walk humbly with our God. Our first course of action must be “submit to God.” Then, as we “resist the devil…he will flee.” (James 4:7)

“There is a recurring precept throughout this book. It is vital that you know, understand, and apply this principle for your future success in warfare. That principle is this: Victory begins with the name of Jesus on your lips, but it will not be consummated until the nature of Jesus is in your heart.”

Chapter 2: The Stronghold of The Godly: Humility

“Satan fears virtue. He is terrified of humility. His hair stands up when Christians kneel down (before God), for humility is the surrender of the soul to God. The devil trembles before the meek…there stands the Lord, and Satan is terrified of Jesus Christ.”

Chapter Three: Pulling Down Strongholds

“What men call “salvation” is simply the first stage of God’s plan for our lives, which is to conform us in character and power to the image of Jesus Christ.“

“Pulling down strongholds is the demolition and removal of our old ways of thinking so that the actual presence of Jesus Christ can be manifested through us.”

“A demonic stronghold is any type of thinking that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, thereby giving the devil a secure place of influence in an individual’s life.” (2 Cor.10:3-5)

” Christians can be oppressed by demons, which can occupy unregenerate thought-systems, especially if those thoughts are defended by self-deception or false doctrines.” “Your rebellion toward God provides a place fo the devil in your life.” “A number of Christians are tormented by various fears. They needed more than prayer; they needed deliverance.”

“Any area of our heart or mind not surrendered to Jesus Christ is an area vulnerable to Satanic attack.”

“Repentance precedes deliverance. The pulling down of strongholds begins with repentance.”

“When Jesus sent out His disciples, “They went out and preached that men should repent. And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.” (Mark 6:12-13) “Note the sequence of recovery…”

“If you are truly walking with Jesus, many areas of your thinking processes will be exposed. Yet, there will be power from God to enable you to repent and receive His virtue into your life.”

______________

You can buy this book and read or listen to. here are some of the links for purchase on the internet.

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Battlegrounds-Depth-Spiritual-Heavenly/dp/1886296383

http://www.elijahshopper.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DL_EB-FF004

http://stores2.faithhighway.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=API&Product_Code=FF2-001&Category_Code=Books

End Times Witnessing: Narrow Gate Plumbline 5 (Be Spiritual)

It is essential to reblog this as this is an end time plumbline -BE SPIRITUAL.

There is no short cut to survive end times. You just need to be spiritual in the Biblical sense. Be a Supernatural Spiritual Christian!

Be Spiritual !

John 9:35

[ Spiritual Blindness ] Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

Romans 1:11

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—

Romans 7:14

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

Romans 12:1

[ Living Sacrifices ] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:11

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Romans 15:27

They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

Spiritual Wisdom is Required of Believers

1 Corinthians 2:13

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

1 Corinthians 2:14

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:15

The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:

1 Corinthians 3:1

[ On Divisions in the Church ] Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:11

If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?

Galatians 6:1

[ Doing Good to All ] Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

Colossians 1:9

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.



Partake Spiritual food and drink



1 Corinthians 10:3

They all ate the same spiritual food

1 Corinthians 10:4

and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.



1 Peter 2:2

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,



Given Spiritual gifts



1 Corinthians 1:7

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

1 Corinthians 12:1

[ Spiritual Gifts ] Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

1 Corinthians 14:1

[ Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues ] Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

1 Corinthians 14:12

So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:37

If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.



Spiritual Body for Eternal Life



1 Corinthians 15:44

it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.If there is a natural body, there is also a Spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:46

The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.



Sing Spiritual Songs



Ephesians 1:3

[ Spiritual Blessings in Christ ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Ephesians 5:19

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,



Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.



Fight Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.



Build Spiritual House



1 Peter 2:5

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit Practical 2

In another Sunday evening session on Holy Spirit Practical subject, the watchman invited a believer to demonstrate how one hears from the Holy Spirit, giving her free flow with the Holy Spirit.


It turned out to be a Spirit-filled, anointed time for some participants. The believer speaker merely strummed a guitar and sang Spirit songs for quite sometime. Some participants prayed in the Spirit with her. They started without the watchman who was held up somewhere.

By the time he reached the meeting place, the room was ‘electrified’ -saturated with the Presence of the Lord. After the songs, there was quite a pause. Then the speaker started sharing her testimony on her walk with the Holy Spirit. By the time she reached the part narrating how she always went back to her own room and cry before the Lord, another participant had so manifested (soaked in tears) that she had to run to the washroom and had a good cry until someone came to knock on her door! She had been unable to cry for quite sometime was set free! The Anointed One destroyed the yoke!

On that same morning, the watchman heard in his spirit the familiar verse from Zechariah 4:6 “It is not by force, nor be strength, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” The verse woke the watchman as he has been pondering for two days about a critical (life and death) parenting situation, which is impacting the whole globe. Young children and teens have been captivated by the digital and electronic games all over the world. He has recently been given the task of guardianship over one teen boy of 15 years old.

The boy manifested violence after binging on cyber games secretly with his friends. The boy first took a fruit knife and pointed at the watchman. When the watchman did not respond, the boy went and took a meat cleaver and pointed at the watchman’s chest. The reason for his manifestation was that the phone shop they visited no longer sell cheap package for the boy’s cell phone! The boy could not send messages to his many friends for one hour and he just could not stand it. So he turned to meaningless violence against an innocent man who just happened to be around during his manifestation.

Sound familiar? The watchman (who had had some training by now under the tuitorship of the Holy Spirit) was unruffled and took charge of the crisis without being harmed physically.

But he still had no wisdom of his own to solve such a case of young teens being possessed by games monsters. So he sought the Lord (the Holy Spirit) for help and rescue. After praying and seeking breakthrough, he received two spiritual instructions.

1. Take authority in the Name of Jesus, bind and cast out the monkeys (or whatever beasts and monsters manifesting). Speak to your mountain and command it to be removed and cast into the sea!

2. Win this war not by own strength but by the Holy Spirit. Pray in the Spirit at all times and see the difference!*


This confirmed what he has been reading about the key to victory is through taking our spiritual authority seriously and put our faith into action.


*For those who wonder why we need to pray in the Spirit, the watchman’s advice is that you just do it and see for yourself. Personally he carries out this faith in action and can see the significant and positive breakthrough in the spiritual realm which in turn has impacted his physical living! God is real. The Holy Scripture is real. Just believe and carry out with childlike faith. The Holy Spirit will show you how.

End Times Witnessing: Be a supernatural Spiritual Christian!

1. John 9:35
   [ Spiritual Blindness ] Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
   John 9:34-36 (in Context) John 9 (Whole Chapter)
2. Romans 1:11
   I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—
   Romans 1:10-12 (in Context) Romans 1 (Whole Chapter)
3. Romans 7:14
   We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
   Romans 7:13-15 (in Context) Romans 7 (Whole Chapter)
4. Romans 12:1
   [ Living Sacrifices ] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
   Romans 12:1-3 (in Context) Romans 12 (Whole Chapter)
5. Romans 12:11
   Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
   Romans 12:10-12 (in Context) Romans 12 (Whole Chapter)
6. Romans 15:27
   They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
   Romans 15:26-28 (in Context) Romans 15 (Whole Chapter)
7. 1 Corinthians 1:7
   Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
   1 Corinthians 1:6-8 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 1 (Whole Chapter)
8. 1 Corinthians 2:13
   This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
   1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 2 (Whole Chapter)
9. 1 Corinthians 2:14
   The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
   1 Corinthians 2:13-15 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 2 (Whole Chapter)
10. 1 Corinthians 2:15
    The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:
    1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 2 (Whole Chapter)
11. 1 Corinthians 3:1
    [ On Divisions in the Church ] Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.
    1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 3 (Whole Chapter)
12. 1 Corinthians 9:11
    If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?
    1 Corinthians 9:10-12 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 9 (Whole Chapter)
13. 1 Corinthians 10:3
    They all ate the same spiritual food
    1 Corinthians 10:2-4 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 10 (Whole Chapter)
14. 1 Corinthians 10:4
    and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
    1 Corinthians 10:3-5 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 10 (Whole Chapter)
15. 1 Corinthians 12:1
    [ Spiritual Gifts ] Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
    1 Corinthians 12:1-3 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 12 (Whole Chapter)
16. 1 Corinthians 14:1
    [ Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues ] Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
    1 Corinthians 14:1-3 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 14 (Whole Chapter)
17. 1 Corinthians 14:12
    So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
    1 Corinthians 14:11-13 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 14 (Whole Chapter)
18. 1 Corinthians 14:37
    If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
    1 Corinthians 14:36-38 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 14 (Whole Chapter)
19. 1 Corinthians 15:44
    it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
    1 Corinthians 15:43-45 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 15 (Whole Chapter)
20. 1 Corinthians 15:46
    The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.
    1 Corinthians 15:45-47 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 15 (Whole Chapter)
21. Galatians 6:1
    [ Doing Good to All ] Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
    Galatians 6:1-3 (in Context) Galatians 6 (Whole Chapter)
22. Ephesians 1:3
    [ Spiritual Blessings in Christ ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
    Ephesians 1:2-4 (in Context) Ephesians 1 (Whole Chapter)
23. Ephesians 5:19
    Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
    Ephesians 5:18-20 (in Context) Ephesians 5 (Whole Chapter)
24. Ephesians 6:12
    For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
    Ephesians 6:11-13 (in Context) Ephesians 6 (Whole Chapter)
25. Colossians 1:9
    For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
    Colossians 1:8-10 (in Context) Colossians 1 (Whole Chapter)
26. Colossians 3:16
    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
    Colossians 3:15-17 (in Context) Colossians 3 (Whole Chapter)
27. 1 Peter 2:2
    Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
    1 Peter 2:1-3 (in Context) 1 Peter 2 (Whole Chapter)
28. 1 Peter 2:5
    you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
    1 Peter 2:4-6 (in Context) 1 Peter 2 (Whole Chapter)

________________________________
There is no short cut to survive end times. You just need to be spiritual in the Biblical sense. Be a supernatural Spiritual Christian!

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX: SPIRITUAL NOVICE COUNTING BLESSINGS!

One thing Jack learns to tell himself is not to give the false impression that he is so spiritual that he can hear God loud and clear, knows God and practices perfectly all things pertaining to godliness. That is false. He must admit that he is still a novice in all spiritual matters and all things pertaining to God. He has a long long way to go to live in the Spirit and by the Spirit.


He is still concerned with two things: Is he living in the Spirit correctly as instructed in the Bible? Is he known by Jesus?

The worst thing that can happen to any Christian is to be addressed by Jesus as worker of iniquity and to be told to depart from the living God forever and ever when that day of the Lord comes.

Things continue to happen to him and his family and friends. As they seek God they discover the positive intervention of the Holy Spirit to make their paths easier. The Holy Spirit indeed provided guidance and arranged for people and events to work together for them.

Recently Jack found that some major prayers were answered in ways that he never thought could be possible. God is a worker of the impossible!

He also learned not to give up hoping and seeking God.

In review, he found that he has again received a big bonus from the Holy Spirit. Two years ago the market crashed and all that he had invested previously in the fund market lost significant monetary value. He was led by the Spirit to read Jeremiah and trusted in the Lord’s faithfulness. He was asked to read “Enter by the narrow gate”.

After reading Jeremiah, he trusted God and hanged on to the original funds. During this year he listened and bought more of certain funds (which value he had earlier lost) at lower cost.

At the lowest time he was led to buy a particular stock at the time that everybody was selling. He sold the stock earlier this year when he made a good profit. The benefits of this one deal were as follows:

1. He used part of the sale proceeds to buy a similar stock at the same earlier buying cost of the sold stock. However, the new stock is worth twice the value of the sold stock.

2. A month later he made a second profit from the new stock which gave right issue at a cost way below the market value.

3. Within two months the stock gave dividends at an earning rate way above other stocks.

4. Within half a year, the stock gave further dividends, totally the best earning in the market.

5. He banked in the remaining unused profit after giving one-tenth of the total to support his church evangelical and healing ministry.

During the last month of this year the original funds which had lost value two years ago had regained their values and gained considerable further value. He just sold some to reap the promised harvest. All in all, just as promised in Jeremiah, God’s steadfast loving kindness and faithfulness are new every morning!

Lean year or fat year, a Christian’s hope and security rest in the Lord.

No wonder God asked His people to come out of Egypt and enter the Promised Land prepared for them. All they had to do was to follow Him, obeyed His command and sought His presence all the time.

Translate the above to today’s scenario, all we need to do is to deny ourselves (be separate from the world and the worldly values), follow Jesus (including His cross), obey His words (carry our crosses), and seek His presence daily, i.e. living by the Spirit.

Another year is over soon, have you come out yet?

P/s: Jack is not a stock market pundit and never has much interest in stock market. The one stock he invested was in plantation as he was led to read the particular passage in Jeremiah, meditated on it and trusted the Holy Spirit to lead him to the right counter at the right time. The same applies to the funds.