CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO: WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT POURED ON A CONSTRUCTION WORKSITE SUPERVISOR

Jack told a friend (a construction work site supervisor who had been seeking to be filled by the Holy Spirit) that the New Year series of sermons would be on getting to know more about the Holy Spirit and suggested that he attends the Prayer House worship service on the second Sunday morning. During the worship, Jack heard a loud noise which sounded as though a tractor was running at full force toward the main entrance of the building. He also heard sizzling sound like something burning. In his mind he was reminded of Nehemiah and the re-building of the Jerusalem walls (wherein half the men had to be on guard against the enemy). So he went out and investigated.

He went to the front entrance and found that it was peaceful and calm. He noted nothing unusual. So he walked round the building to the backyard. There he discovered that the neighbor property was under re-construction and workmen were working with tractor and welding tools. The worksite was separated from the church building by a chain-link fence. There was no protective temporary fencing for security.

So he prayed in the spirit as he walked round the whole church compound, for God’s protection. When he reached the front entrance he looked at the wide open gate and decided to close it. After that he returned to the worship service. Shortly after that he noted that his friend’s seat was vacant. However after a while he saw the friend returning. After the service he was engaged elsewhere and did not notice that the friend had left.

In the evening due to his fever he thought of not attending the evening service which sermon would be a continuation of the morning’s sermon. However as he lied on his bed the power blacked out and he was unable to rest further. So he decided to go to the evening service. He was surprised to see his friend there as well.

After the service he asked the friend whether the worship services benefitted him. The friend told him that that morning he wanted to leave for his worksite as a new project was being launched but he could not get out as he thought the gate was locked (unaware that Jack was the one who closed it shortly before he wanted to leave). So he thought he better stayed back for the whole service as God probably wanted him to stay. After the end of the service he rushed to his worksite but while driving, he found tears gushing out and he also burst out speaking in tongue (praying in the spirit) for the first time in his life! He had to stop the car by the road side s he could not drive on.

That morning’s sermon was on how the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment. The preacher told them that when the conviction comes, tears will flow. At the same time the Holy Spirit would also comfort. How true it had turned out to be for the friend. He was beaming all over that evening despite his red and swollen eyes. His face was radiant and the light of Christ was on him. It was indeed a most blessed start for him for this New Year.

January 11, 2010

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE: NEHEMIAH, PRAYERS, WATCHMAN AND WEAPONS

On the first Tuesday after the Sunday encounter with God the Holy Spirit, Jack decided to spend time doing the morning worship and Bible reading on his own. He started his praise and worship in the spirit while driving and by the time he reached home he continued to sing hymns and choruses. Then he read the Bible. The Book of Nehemiah came to his mind and he read the verses aloud. The reading continued and before he realized it was noon and he had spent the whole morning reading the Bible. The reading was different from his previous reading of the same Book. The whole Book brought to him a clear message about the church they are building right now.
The place was meant for prayers and intercessions and was used for that purpose for the past ten years. All the services were conducted in the evenings and focused on worship, healing and deliverance. People came and left as they wished. Many had been ministered to, received healings and deliverance but had not returned with gratitude. The Christians returned to their own churches. The non-believers maintained their distance. Only now a decision is made to start the Sunday morning worship like a church does.
Jack pondered on the task of re-building of a church. He could imagine how Nehemiah felt. It was a monumental task for Nehemiah, to rebuild the Jerusalem walls. Nehemiah started the project alone. With God. God was the master builder. Nehemiah merely listened and obeyed. He prayed every step of the way. He prayed and God answered immediately. He did not take things for granted. In fact, Nehemiah had followed the Holy Spirit all the way.
Nehemiah was a watchman. He watched and prayed and interceded. God answered and gave him the solutions. He obeyed and followed the instructions. His problems were thus solved.
Jack noted in Nehemiah the following spiritual truth applicable in the present re-building efforts:
1. Recognize that the war is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual principalities, rulers and wicked forces in the heavenly realm. (Ephesians 6)
2. Recognize the key role of the Holy Spirit (the power behind all re-building efforts) and the words of God (the sword of the Spirit).
3. Recognize the importance of regular prayers and intercessions (to switch on the power).
4. Recognize the rightful functions of the gates and the walls. The gates are to open and welcome the entrance of the King of kings, Lord of lords. The walls are for the defense against the enemies.
The strategy of Nehemiah is to: watch, pray, defend and build.
Jack was led to note that Nehemiah deployed half his men to build and half to be equipped with weapons and posted behind the workers/builders. Even the builders wore swords. The materials carriers worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other. Such caution and defense!
His conclusion is that we need to pray more and read the Bible more, much more than what we have been doing. Without the words of God (the swords of the Spirit), without the switch (prayer) that switches on the power of God in the spiritual realm, the battle will be lost. Above all, we must seek the presence of the Holy Spirit as He is the power source.
January 6, 2010

CHAPTER SIXTY: OUT OF HIS HEART WILL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER

26 years ago Jack first encountered God in a big way and the amazing experience imprinted in his heart had never faded all these years when he continued to seek God’s presence through God’s words. However, he sometimes thought with sadness that he would never encounter God again in that way. Last Sunday he attended the first Sunday morning worship service in the Prayer House. God met him in exactly the same way and more powerful and touching. Jack was totally overwhelmed!

It was like any other Prayer House worship except that it was in the morning for the first time. They started the first Sunday morning worship with the leader singing in the spirit followed by the first hymn, which was a short chorus with the full Gospel message in the song. As Jack knelt down and sang, he was totally surrounded by the words (lyrics) which became alive and real. The Holy Spirit worked deeply in him and he was filled with such great peace and joy and gratitude as the Gospel of Christ was sung.

Tears streamed down like a river and washed him through out the worship. The love of God came to him and worked into his heart. He was led (in the spirit) to focus on the cross and Jesus’ painful yet powerful humiliation, suffering and even death, just for the sake of all mankind. He felt the heart of God saying to him: “How much I have loved you, and many others, indeed, the whole world!” All the hymns (and choruses) were Jesus-focus. The whole Gospel of Christ was narrated in the lyrics.

The Word of God became real: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

As they took Holy Communion, he was reminded of the body of Christ, broken for him and many, and by which (Jesus’ stripes) he was healed, and the blood of Christ, shed for him and many for the forgiveness of their sins. He was redeemed, and set free, all because of God’s love.

He was reminded that God is love and God’s perfect love cast out all fears. God is light and darkness must flee in the presence of God. God is life and Jesus has conquered death! As Paul has declared victoriously: “O death, where is your sting?” He took the bread and cup in grateful tears.

What a morning! Jack was completely soaked in tears but he was not alone. He shared this experience with a leader in the evening and was surprised that two leaders of the church had the same encounter that morning with God (the Holy Spirit) and were equally soaked in tears too!!

The sermon (based on the Acts of the Apostles) was another blessing. The preacher preached the first incidence of the Holy Spirit pouring onto the disciples of Jesus Christ on the Pentecost Day at the third hour (around 9am, the time of the morning sacrifice) of that day followed with their speaking and praising God in many tongues (other languages) and preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, converting three thousands to Christ, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. The church was thus born empowered mightily by the Holy Spirit.

At the ninth hour (around 3pm, the time of the evening sacrifice) of a day, Peter and John went up to the temple and Peter healed a man who was lame from his mother’s womb. This was the first miracle specifically recorded after the out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples.

Indeed, God has answered Jack’s prayer on looking for a church (read chapter forty-three: “I am looking for a church”). He was grateful and filled with great joy.

On the last day, that great day of the feast (of Tabernacles), Jesus stood and cried out, saying: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water (Holy Spirit).” (John 7:37-39)

January 6, 2010

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE: JACK DISCOVERS THAT GOD IS REAL AND GIVES GRACE (UNMERITED FAVOR)!

On the eve of the last day of 2009, Jack was led to give thanks for the year. He looked back and without hesitation agreed that it was a year full of unmerited favor from the Almighty God, Whom he called Abba Father in his prayers.

He summarized below what happened to him when he sought God seriously through being led by the Holy Spirit:

1. He was led by the Holy Spirit to encounter the reality of God.

As a result, he learned to live differently. He attended a Prayer House to worship and pray instead of attending the usual services of a church. He attended seminars teaching him in practice how to wait upon God, worship God for hours and not feel bored or tired. He listened to teachings on the needs to keep one’s temple (the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit) holy (being separated from the worldly values and worldly beliefs and practices) for the indwelling Spirit of Christ. He learned how to keep his temple cleansed (through the regular and daily washing of God’s words, the Holy Spirit, and the presence of God).

2. He was led by the Holy Spirit to re-examine his faith and belief system.

As a result, he saw and admitted his religious failures in the past despite having been a committed evangelical Christian for over 25 years, reading Bible daily, attending church without fail and serving in Sunday school etc. faithfully. He had a lot of knowledge about what is right to do and made his best effort too, though without the power of the Holy Spirit (as the churches he attended preached Holy Spirit for mind knowledge and not in practice with power). He had been disillusioned over the years watching the weak churches, pastors, elders and members being attacked spiritually and succumbed. He admitted he had been guilty as he was part of the church system without making any effort to seek the Holy Spirit and cry for help!

3. He learned about the true church.

As a result, he sought God on his own at home and also attended a place where he found worshippers really seeking God, basked in God’s presence and instead of the “Thing” called church. As he continued to seek, he found the true church in the Acts of the Apostles. He shuddered at the thought that he had been so deceived and was part of the “Thing” for so many years. Without the Holy Spirit, church becomes the “Thing”!

4. He practiced as a member of the true church.

He learned that as he takes Holy Communion with the other believers of Jesus Christ, he becomes a member of the corporate body of Christ. Christ is the head of the body. The words Jesus spoke about His disciples abiding in Him and being one with Him as He is one with the Father in heaven become a reality. By this belonging, the body of Christ enjoys the authority (over all spiritual principalities, rulers and wicked forces in the heavenly realm) and all privileges of Christ who has given to His believers.

5. He learned to trust God (including believing the words of God and obey).

As he allowed himself to be led by the Holy Spirit, he found that gradually he could listen to what the Holy Spirit was saying to him. It was not in audible voice. Ideas (in visions/pictures, dreams and God’s words) came into his heart. He sought confirmation in the words of God. He learned to follow them.

He learned to communicate to God. His prayers changed. Unlike the former usual political correct prayers which he had uttered as he was expected to do so, he was led by the Holy Spirit to pray in ways he had never imagined before. He knew it was not his usual human effort that was in the pilot set anymore.

6. He learned to use a variety of spiritual gifts.

He prayed in the spirit. He sang in the spirit. He mingled his prayers with worship and praise songs. He exercised his faith and even prayed for the sick that were brought to him on a day when all the usual healing leaders were absent. He continued to read the Bible in new light under the tutorship of the Holy Spirit. He shared with (and perhaps taught) others through his writing what he had learned.

7. He lived by the Spirit (and by faith).

After listening to repeated teachings and reading the Bible about divine healing and divine health from Jesus, he stopped his medicine for nose allergy and high heart rate. By faith he believed he was completely healed. He now enjoys divine health.

Looking back, Jack marveled at the amazing things that happened. He has discovered the reality of God’s presence. He has learned that God responds to our prayers without hesitations. God loves us. Indeed, the Holy Spirit has responded to his request so fast that he was caught surprised.

Today he tells himself and all his readers that he is very happy because God is real! Holy Spirit is real. Jesus is real.

His New Year resolution is thus: Be real. Live in the Spirit.

2010-01-01

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT: CHRISTMAS VISIONS AND DREAMS OF GREEN TREES AND ISAIAH 61

On Christmas Eve, Jack had a dream. It was a vivid dream which he had not had for quite some time. He recently returned from a journey to a foreign country. It was a cold and tiring journey during which he was led to pray a lot and in the spirit. it was more like a spiritual working journey. He was relieved on reaching his own comfortable spacious home and looked forward to a good rest.

However, he was soon led to another journey overnight during which he was led to pray considerably in the spirit too. That night after all the praying he asked the Holy spirit to reveal to him more about things which he lately concerned with, i.e. his own family (and those of his siblings), their future and the work of God.

On Christmas Eve, he was given a vivid dream. In the dream he was asked to look out of his window and he did. He saw a picturesque scene of tall green pine or fir trees at a distance with shorter green trees (like cedar trees) and bushes nearby and lush green pastures everywhere (filling the empty space on the ground), with rolling green hills afar. The whole scenery was green. It was like a picture. Yet it was real scenery with real trees and not like a painting. It was a very soothing and lively scene. He woke without knowing the meaning.

On Christmas Day he had another dream. This time it was a totally opposite picture. In the same dream he went through two episodes. First, he was helping one of his younger brothers to re-process some sweet sticky food stuff in an old, run down shack (more like ruins). There was no wall on one side of the shack and rain and wind came in through the crevices despite the canvas sheet which substituted the wall. Some workers were working too. However, the owner management of the shack came over and warned that they could not use that space to process foodstuff. Jack tried to give the excuse that they were only re-processing and not manufacturing. The management then said that they (the management) were meeting that evening and would decide whether to continue to let them use that space. One worker tried to use a lot of detergent to scrub the cracked and blackened sink in vain. Jack then asked them to pack and left. It was pitched dark and they had to find a way out through the car park. He held the wrist of his younger brother and tried to lead him to the exit, crossing a dried up drain. The wrist was tiny and skinny like that of a young child.

In the next episode, he was in a warm building (a bit like the wooden quarters they used to live in younger days) with his siblings. One sister was cooking. Other siblings seemed to be around somewhere in the building too. One younger sister came to him for help. She seemed desperate and helpless. He asked the cook to work out a budget for basic survival. He woke after that.

On Boxing Day, Jack decided to search the Bible for answers to these two dreams. He found passages in the Bible which he was led to read from two sections: Isaiah 61 and Psalm 104.

Isaiah 61 prophesied the arrival of Jesus to save, heal and set free. The relevant verse (abut trees) thus promised: “To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

There were a number of assurances following that verse, “And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations”,

“Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers, but you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall receive double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs.”

Psalm 104 described how God provides all resources needed for a living on earth. The following verse declared: “The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your (God’s) works.” God’s works include causing the grass to grow for the cattle, vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart. The trees of the Lord are full of sap, the cedars of the Lebanon which He planted, where the birds make their nests, the stork has her home in the fir trees.

On reading these he was filled with peace. He realized that God has answered his prayers. It is God Who provides. God has saved his siblings and will plant them like trees. God is the expert gardener as Jesus has described. He will prune and make His plants fruitful.

There is thus nothing Jack needs to do except to obey the instructions for watchman in Isaiah 62. The relevant verses gave the following job specifications: “They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6-7)

December 27, 2009

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN: VISIONS OF COOKED PIG HEAD, NATIVE INDIANS WITH AX ON MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK SCAFFOLDING OF BIG CHURCH

Lately Jack had not been seeing much in his spirit. However, he has learned not to focus on seeing visions or trying to remember dreams. He had a lot of dreams in which he discussed matters with the Holy Spirit. But he could not remember them when he woke. He reminds himself daily he seeks God alone and not visions or signs and wonders or what God can do for him.


As he will embark on a journey to a distant land shortly he has been preparing himself physically and spiritually. He prayed for divine slimness and fitness so he would not feel cumbersome when required to walk a long distance which requires good stamina as well.

Soon after his prayer for divine slimness he saw one vision which revealed the humorous (though direct and even hurting to a man’s ego) side of the Holy Spirit. One day Jack was praying in tongue (in the Spirit) a lot as he knew he had lagged lately. He remembered the teaching that the more one feels unspiritual the more one should pray in the Spirit and let the Holy Spirit work into oneself. So he persisted. Then by the time he went to an evening service in the Prayer House, he saw a clear vision after worshipping awhile. He saw the head of a piglet in a ring like a cartoon. So he thought this could be an unclean spirit and he cast it out in Jesus’ name, though he did not grasp the meaning then. Immediately the picture changed. The piglet head became a cooked piglet head (with the word “cooked” and “cake” appearing in his mind), followed by a clear phrase in his mind “the spirit of gluttony”! It dawned on him that he had the spirit of gluttony so he repented and renounced and cast it out!

He felt good after that day and realized how fast the Holy Spirit acted in response to our crying out for help.

Another day he went to his former church to hand over some stuff to someone. When he wanted to leave a thought came to him to go and pray in the prayer room as it was a day of intercession for churches and nations. So he went. This was the first time he prayed there. He prayed in the Spirit for sometime and saw a vision. On that church’s construction scaffolding of the new multimillion dollars multi-storey car park, he saw two American Indian chiefs complete with headgears, carrying an ax and standing with legs apart.

He thought it was not a good sign so he prayed against whatever evils it could mean. When he went home he was troubled. He asked the Holy Spirit to reveal to him and confirm whatever report it means in a second time as God repeats twice to show things established by God and that He will shortly bring it to pass. (Gen. 41:32) No further revelations. So Jack read the Bible on interpretations on ax and native.

He found that John the Baptist warned the Pharisees of their arrogance and impending judgment, “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matt.3:10) Jesus warned of the fig tree that was barren for three years and agreed to give it one more chance before cutting it down. (Luke 13:7-9) He also read about how God warned the arrogant spirit of Assyria in Isaiah 10:12-19. In Isa. 10:15, “Should the ax boast itself against him who chops with it?” The verses that followed were frightening, “Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, will send leanness among his fat ones; an under His glory He will kindle a burning like a burning of a fire…will consume the glory of his forest…then the rest of the trees of his forest will be so few in number that a child may write them.”

He was more troubled. That evening he attended an over midnight worship and prayer meeting. During the sharing of God’s words, the preacher spoke on the topic of “self-righteousness” (hypocrites and judgmental) which is a religious spirit of the Pharisees. He ended his sermon with the example of the Laodiceans which boasted, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” and the Lord rebuked them as those who “do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”. Jesus called the Pharisees blind guides and hypocrites (Matt.23). He noted a frightening correlation between the Laodiceans church and the Pharisees.

Jack is in a dilemma. He does not know whether to share the vision about the Indians with ax on scaffolding of the multi-million car park he saw with the leaders of that church. Is he being judgmental? Is he the one who is self-righteous? Is he the Pharisee? He searches his heart. He finds that he has nothing of himself that he seeks to honor and/or thinks highly of. He does not covet big construction. (He tends to remember how God caused the downfall of the Tower of Babel and he shudders). He was a part of this big project in fact as he had financially supported the building with a considerable monetary donation and an interest free loan. He should have been proud and boasted of it if he was a Pharisee.

On the other hand, he is still looking to the Holy Spirit to raise another watchman to speak to that big church. (Sigh)

2009-12-14

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.