the watchman’s dream on 2022-10-16

The watchman’s dream and 2 Thessalonians 2

Nothing could be more ridiculous. The only good thing about it is that it was only a dream. The watchman was with a small group of people for no particular reasons in a large gated house. There was an alert that the enemy were coming so they had to prepare themselves. There was no indication of who and why and when and from where and how, all the details in a real world that would have mattered were missing. Anyway the group of people did not consist of members of a family. Nor were they related in anyway, social, political, economic, religious, or ideological affiliation of any sort. It was an unfamiliar house and compound. Were they tourists? A decade ago the watchman had dreams of being tourist in similar but different in details dilemma.

Somehow he became the ad hoc leader of the band of people. So he said they had to arm. There were nothing except kitchen ware. Some took a butter knife. Some carried an umbrella. Some a plastic rod or something, hat hanger? The watchman led them to line up with their back facing the gate, which seemed as if the enemy would come from inside the house and they had to be outside and stand against the wall that surrounded the house and yard/garden.

None of the participants seemed to have had any training in using weapon or self defense or martial art or any form of combat. They were women wearing dresses, old men, children, and ordinary tradesmen such as the watchman. Some looked like the watchman’s old classmates from junior school whom he ad not met for over fifty years. The watchman in the dream was a rather senior person with white hair.

The mood was strangely calm and unhurried. No one had any idea what strategy we were to adopt should the enemy come. Butter knives, forks, umbrellas, and the unidentified plastic stuff the watchman and a few others carrying were hardly anything of any value in terms of warfare, if any.

When the watchman woke up it was a great relief. Any story writer would have found this plot too rudimentary to be worthwhile to continue. Yet, It was so real in the dream. It was like a scene out of a future when ordinary people would find themselves the center of a reality plot whether anyone would want to record it or not.

The watchman had not had this kind of dreams or any lucid dream at all for about a decade. Standing with their backs against the wall and knowing that it was ridiculous that they were totally unprepared, the watchman decided to wake up. it was still early but there was no desire to sleep further.

After boiling water with a steel pot the watchman made a mug of strong coffee and sat on the floor to ask a few questions. Above all, “what is the Lord trying to tell me?” A week ago he found his old One Year Bible in a former house, brought it back and started reading it daily. When he opened the day’s reading it was on 2 Thessalonians. So he read.

Here are some verses from the Epistle for the believers:

Chapter one 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stand Fast

Chapter two 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

Pray for Us

Chapter three Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

The immediate week before the dream the watchman watched some testimonies given by teachers of faith about how they encountered the presence of God in the Spirit and the reality of the spiritual realm of God. There was a sharing of a book titled, The Spirit of Prophecy: A Portal to the Presence and Power of God. After watching, the watchman thought about his own experience with the gift of prophecy, and the manifestation/application of it years ago. As there were no occasion to use the gift he had put it in the closet. Very occasionally when needed he would use the gifts of the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom.

Is there any interpretation for this dream? For years, he has sought answers directly from the Word. The Word will come in time.

καὶnotes, 2022-10-17

an urgent message (897th post) to watchmen

Watchman’s notes on 18/2/19: Around 2009 I was introduced to a group which focused on spiritual activities. The founding pastor testified that she personally encountered Jesus, was miraculously saved from a Buddhist background, delivered from demonic attack and subsequently walked in the power of the Holy Spirit healing sick people. She encouraged sick people to use intensive Bible reading, attend regular prayer meetings and wait upon God to help themselves without the use of medicine. Worship then appeared to focus on exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

However, it soon becomes evident that there are no significant miraculous healing testimonies except testimonies occurred many years ago. There are obvious doctrinal self-contradictions with mixed and confused teachings in combining the Old and New Testaments. Most noticeably, there is no practical application of the Grace and Love as taught by Jesus. Instead of teaching and practicing the grace and truth that came through Jesus, the leader focuses on the teaching and practicing the Old Testament Legalism and the ministry of death and condemnations (as warned by apostle Paul against the legalism teachings by the Judaists in 2 Corinthians 3 and Galatians). It is no surprise that increasingly “devotees” have left in disappointments and hurts.

We must take heed the stern warnings from Jesus and the early apostles against the yeast (false teachings) of the Pharisees and the Judaists. The apostle James has also clearly warned that a double-minded man (Christian) will not receive anything from the Lord. (James 1:7-8)

The earliest Jerusalem church’s apostles and elders have unanimously agreed and decreed that they should not test God by putting a yoke (i.e. commanding the Gentile believers to follow Jewish practice and keep the law of Moses) on the neck of the Gentile (non-Jews) disciples which the Jews themselves were unable to bear. (Acts 15:10-11) “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God”.

After I stopped attending their gatherings, there are news that the above mentioned leader has changed their worship to emulating worshiping in heaven (as popularly imagined) using harps which she deems worthy to be the one of the main few exclusive musical instruments used in heaven. Yesterday I heard that they are selling harps (made by a third world country) to many (presumably churches and Christians) like hot cakes (exorbitantly expensive ones). This latest news has prompted me to revise what I have written in this blog ten years back about the duties of a watchman and his/her weapons. I have since cast that 2011 blog to trash bin.

REVISED FOCUS for all “watchmen” (Every born again believer): we have the Holy Spirit inside, the Bible, and eternal life which means know God and Jesus.

What has Jesus taught and commanded us? What has Jesus demonstrated while on earth? Let us emulate Him!  

Jesus is our sole spiritual power source and authority. He has personified God -grace and truth in Himself. He has given every believer in Jesus the Holy Spirit and His gifts and anointing. Jesus said that He and the Father (God) will dwell in every believer of Jesus. Jesus has reconciled every believer with God. God’s presence is now in us and not outside us somewhere (as in the Old Testament time). No amount of external atmosphere or ambience can bring God to anywhere nearer than what Jesus has accomplished for every believer of Jesus!

The works of Jesus every believer is to do and continue doing: doing what Jesus did. Jesus did not do any harp playing worship. Neither did the apostles and disciples of Jesus in the early churches did. What did Jesus and His apostles and disciples do? Preach the gospel, heal the sick, set the oppressed free.

The New Testament has assured us that every born again believer of Jesus already has the following qualifications:

1. We are saved by grace (God’s initiative) and not by works (our initiative). It is already a done deal through Jesus.
2. We are born of the Holy Spirit.
3. We are saved, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, justified, sanctified and made the righteousness of God. God has made Jesus become our wisdom, righteousness, holiness and redemption.
4. We have eternal life: know God and Jesus.
5. We have His Word: The Bible.
6. We have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
7. We can do all things in Christ Jesus who strengthens us.
8. We are seated with Jesus at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
9. We are sons of God; therefore, we are led by the Holy Spirit.
10. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and are given His gifts to bear fruits.
11. As Jesus is, so are we in this world, anointed by the Presence of God (the Holy Spirit dwelling in us).
12. We have received the same precious faith as the apostles did.
13. We have been made partakers of the divine nature of God.
14. We walk by the Spirit.
15. We live by faith.

Our mission on earth: Our spiritual anointing (empowerment by the Holy Spirit) is to do the work that Jesus had done and greater works than what Jesus had demonstrated while on earth as a man (Luke 4:18; John 14:12). Jesus has given us power and authority to them: witnessing for Jesus, seeking, healing and saving the lost, doing and teaching about the kingdom of God, be ambassadors for Christ, imploring the world to be reconciled to God.    

Commandments given by Jesus to all believers: (Scripture quoted in New King James Version)

1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 16:15-20 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Luke 24:46-48 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Examples of how the apostles and early churches/disciples applied what Jesus has commanded: How they prayed, the prayer’s effect, and how they applied:

Acts 4:29-31 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your Holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Acts 5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

Acts 5:14-16 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Acts 5:29-32 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit Whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 6:7-8 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

--> Acts 8:6-8 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

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Jesus teaches that His truth can set the Jews free from the legalistic bondages imposed by the Pharisees and scribes using Moses law.

[ The Truth Shall Make You Free ] Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

2 Corinthians 3:14-18

14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as [a]by the Spirit of the Lord.

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 3:18 Or from the Lord, the Spirit

*Note on harps: I have written another related blog: please click on: harp and lyre delusion effect on Christian worship congregation.

I have no issues with using harp or any other musical instrument if you like its music. But I would caution that it is not an exclusive Christian musical instrument and it does not give anyone healing or deliverance unless they believe in Jesus who shed His blood for our redemption, by the power of the Holy Spirit. I also urge Christians and churches to remember the command of Jesus for His believers, to go (out into the world) and witness for Him, make disciples of all nations. There is nowhere in the New Testament Bible (throughout Jesus’ walking on earth as a man, up to His death, resurrection and ascension to heaven and the establishment of Christianity on earth) that speaks of Christians (and churches) practicing using of any specific musical instrument to worship. i believe that as watchmen for truth, we have a responsibility to point other believers to the truth.

A pagan king had used the same musical instrument, the harp, to accompany the worship of him (as their compulsory idol) by his subjects: “when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up” (Daniel 3)